To prevent me from living poorly after starting college, my mom deposited a hundred grand onto my campus meal card all at once. But when she saw the fruits and snacks I brought back for everyone to share, my “low-income” roommate suddenly got offended. “You’re so extravagant and wasteful. You don’t look like someone who knows how to manage a household at all. My mom despises girls like you.” I found her reaction completely baffling, so I just pulled up my meal card transaction history to show her. “These snacks weren’t even that expensive. Besides, it’s my money. I have the right to spend it however I want.” I never expected the “low-income” girl to explode. She pointed at my seventy-three-dollar dinner receipt and shrieked, “Eating a meal this expensive just for yourself? Aren’t you afraid of bad karma?!” “Every extra cent you spend now means my brother will have to work an extra shift after he marries you!” “My family can’t afford to worship a golden calf like you!” She gave me full-body goosebumps. I immediately went to our RA and requested a dorm transfer. I never imagined she would hold such a deep grudge. Not long after, she brought her entire family to campus, forcefully kidnapped me, and dragged me back to their remote mountain village to be her brother’s forced bride. There, under her brother’s relentless, day-and-night domestic abuse, I was beaten to death in a filthy pigpen. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the exact day Chloe was berating me for spending money like water. 01 I stood frozen, holding the bags of fruit and snacks. The stench of the pigpen was gone, and my legs hadn’t been shattered by Caleb’s iron rod. Looking around the dorm room, filled with the cheerful chatter of my roommates, my eyes instantly welled up with tears. I had actually been reborn! I was back to the day I brought welcome gifts for my roommates. Remembering the nightmare I had lived through in my past life, a sharp sting hit my nose. The very next second, taking advantage of the fact that Chloe hadn’t returned yet, I quickly shoved the fruit and snacks into my suitcase. I swore to myself I would never have the slightest connection with that crazy woman again. But just as I was getting up to find the RA to request a room change, I ran face-first into Chloe walking in. She looked at me with a dark expression, frowning impatiently. “What did you buy this time?” I gripped the hem of my shirt and quickly looked away. “N-nothing…” To my shock, she suddenly snatched my phone out of my hand and pressed my thumb against the sensor to unlock it. Staring at my transaction history, she shrieked, “This expensive?!” “What kind of cake costs over a hundred dollars?” “A cup of blended juice, and you spent twenty bucks on it?” She shot me a look of pure disbelief. “I’m telling you.” “It’s way too easy to take money from you spoiled little brats.” “Do you really think the money my brother makes in the future grows on trees?” Her words brought back a flood of memories from my past life. In my previous life, after her family kidnapped me and dragged me to the mountains, I never spent a single cent of their money. Instead, her “hardworking” brother forced me to sell my body to support their family. I had tried telling him that I had money—lots and lots of money. If they would just let me go, I promised to set them up for life. But after extorting a massive ransom from my mother, they locked me in a pigpen covered in filth. Chloe’s mother couldn’t resist mocking me: “Money always runs out eventually. But as long as we keep the goose that lays the golden eggs, we’ll never have to worry about a thing.” “We’re not stupid enough to kill the goose.” They used the ransom money to renovate their old house, living a life of luxury that made the whole village jealous. But the one time I simply said I was hungry, Caleb beat my face until it was swollen beyond recognition. “Hungry, hungry, hungry! That’s all you know how to do!” “Didn’t you just eat an egg yesterday morning?” “You lazy, gluttonous piece of trash!” That night, he grabbed a heavy farming hoe and beat me to death in the cold, freezing rain. Thinking of this, I couldn’t suppress the fury burning in my chest. I snatched my phone back. I glared at Chloe with absolute venom. “It’s my money, and I’ll spend it however I want! It’s none of your damn business!” With that, I turned on my heel and marched straight toward the RA’s office. Since I couldn’t avoid them anyway, I wanted to see who exactly belonged in the deepest pits of hell this time around! 02 Just like in my past life, the RA didn’t give me a hard time about wanting to switch rooms. She quickly approved my request and moved me to the dorm next door. However, when I went back to my old room to pack my things, Chloe was sobbing uncontrollably in front of the other girls. Soon, my former roommates were shooting me complicated looks. “Summer, I know as outsiders we shouldn’t get involved,” one of them started. “But you shouldn’t degrade yourself by being a gold digger, right?” “Chloe told us you’re already engaged to her brother.” “The money on your meal card—her brother put that there for you, didn’t he?” Listening to their baseless accusations, I froze. I couldn’t believe Chloe had reached this level of shamelessness. How could she invent such a ridiculous lie? Before I could even defend myself, Chloe wiped her tears. “Please don’t let me ruin the vibe in the dorm. Don’t make things awkward because of me.” “I just feel so bad for my brother.” “He works so incredibly hard, all so he can provide a stable home for the future.” The girls, overcome with sympathy, immediately shot me cold glares. “Having a gold digger as a roommate is seriously bad luck!” I couldn’t help but marvel at how right I was to switch rooms. Otherwise, I had no idea how I would have survived four years with these gullible idiots. Pulling my suitcase out from under the bed, I didn’t want to stay a second longer. But just as Chloe asked, “Sister-in-law, where are you going?” I spun around and snapped back, “I am not engaged to your brother.” “I don’t even know who your brother is.” “And for the record! I’m spending the allowance money I’ve saved up over the years!” That shut them up instantly. They all looked at Chloe in disbelief. Under their scrutinizing stares, Chloe looked uncomfortable. Her eyes turned red, and she started making her bed. The vibe in my new dorm was great. As soon as they heard I was the new transfer, they all eagerly introduced themselves and invited me to join them for lunch. I noticed a huge spread of takeout on the main table. So, I offered up the fruit and snacks I had hidden in my suitcase to share. But just as we were eating and chatting excitedly, a cold voice suddenly sounded in my ear. “Sister-in-law, aren’t you worried about getting fat eating all that?” “My brother doesn’t like girls who are too heavy.” I nearly jumped out of my chair. I spun around to see Chloe standing there like a ghost. 03 This time, I was so angry I laughed. I snapped back without holding back, “None of your damn business.” My new roommates also started asking who Chloe was. But Chloe acted like she didn’t hear them. She stepped forward, glanced at the takeout on the table, and pointed her fingers at me. “Sister-in-law, I came to apologize.” “But I’m only doing this for your own good.” “After all, the pig we’re raising for the holidays at home is already eating enough…” Hearing her call me “sister-in-law” twice instantly sparked my roommates’ curiosity. Before they could ask, I quickly cleared the air. “Chloe, I know your brother is getting older and can’t find a girlfriend.” “But you can’t just grab a random person and call them your sister-in-law, can you?” “Also, I have a personal trainer at the gym to manage my fitness. I don’t need you worrying about it.” Chloe jerked her head up in shock. “What?” “You spend money to eat and drink, and then spend more money to lose weight?” “That’s not how you use money. If it’s that bad, just come back to the farm with me and do some manual labor. That’ll slim you down.” But the dorm president, Sarah, fired back, “It’s her money. She can spend it however she wants. It’s none of your concern.” The other girls chimed in, “Exactly.” “If you love worrying so much, go to Mount Rushmore, tell Washington to move over, and you take his place.” “Summer already said she has nothing to do with your brother and told you to stop calling her that. How do you have the nerve to still stand here?” “You’re not welcome in our room.” “You’re in the wrong place. The trash can is in the bathroom.” She clearly hadn’t expected her “good intentions” to be met with this kind of reaction. Chloe’s eyes were wide with disbelief. Before anyone could physically kick her out, she shot me a venomous glare. “Sister-in-law, I didn’t think you were this kind of person.” “You’re totally fine spending my brother’s money, but you treat him like some kind of sugar daddy to string along?” “Since that’s how it is, I have nothing to hold back.” “I have proof that she’s my sister-in-law.” Saying that, she pulled out… 04 A photograph. Even though it was wrinkled from being hidden away and looked aged and yellowed, the woman standing next to her brother undeniably had my exact face. Looking at their bright smiles and the unfamiliar background, I felt completely surreal. I was absolutely certain that today was the first time I had ever met Chloe. Even if the photo was photoshopped and artificially aged, how would she even know who I was? It was so bizarre, I briefly wondered if my dad had an illegitimate daughter running around. I was too stunned to speak for a long time. Then, Chloe’s icy voice broke the silence. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” Seeing her smug, confident expression, I felt like I was choking. But even then, Sarah didn’t just take her word for it. She turned to another roommate. “Mia, you’re a graphic design major.” “Take a look. Is this photoshopped?” Mia immediately grabbed the photo. She stared at it for a long time but couldn’t figure it out. Finally, she scratched her head awkwardly. “Hehe, I skip class way too much. I can’t really tell.” “But it’s fine. I know a senior who does this professionally.” “I’ll snap a pic and send it to him.” However, she quickly received a reply that shocked everyone. “The photo is real. No signs of Photoshop.” At the same time, a triumphant smile spread across Chloe’s face. “See?” “Still going to deny you’re my sister-in-law?” “How do you explain the photo then?” I really didn’t know how to explain it, because the person in the photo definitely wasn’t me! Even in my past life, I had never seen this woman before. Seeing that I wasn’t reacting, Chloe scanned my roommates, a sneer on her lips. “Now do you see what kind of person your new roommate is?” But the response she got was a freezing cold order from Sarah. “Get out.” “Our room does not welcome you!” Chloe’s face stiffened. She immediately turned and stormed out. “You don’t know what’s good for you!” “You’ve messed with the wrong person! You’ll regret this!” 05 Over the next few days, my roommates tacitly agreed to never bring the incident up again. They continued to invite me to meals and gossip sessions as usual. Chloe didn’t bother me again either. I thought the whole farce was over and I could finally start my college life. But one afternoon, when all my roommates were out on dates, I was walking alone to the dining hall. On the main path, I bumped into an old woman peering around shiftily. As soon as I saw her face, I immediately turned around to run. But Chloe’s mother locked eyes on me and lunged, grabbing my wrist in a vice grip. She looked me up and down, her eyes finally settling on my hips, clicking her tongue and shaking her head. “Hmph. So skinny.” “Who knows if you’ll even be able to give me a grandson.” I glared at her icily. “Let go of me. I don’t know you.” The old woman suddenly pinched my butt hard. “You uneducated little brat!” “Is that how you talk to your mother-in-law?” “You might not know me, but I know you! Your name is Summer, right?” “Just hearing that name, I know you’re high-maintenance.” “I think you should change your name to something more traditional, like Martha.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Earlier, I had thought they just mistook me for the woman in the photo. But the fact that she knew my name meant it wasn’t a mistake. What the hell was going on? The tangled mess of thoughts made my brain short-circuit for a second. I immediately yanked my hand away, wishing I had eight legs so I could run away from this nightmare faster. But the old woman got straight to the point. “I heard from Chloe that you’re a money-burning waste of space.” “But I have no choice. My son is dead set on you.” “So I’ll give it to you straight.” “If you want to marry my son, the dowry has to include a car.” “My son has loved cars since he was a boy. It can’t be anything under fifty grand.” “I already looked at houses. It’s a nice little suburban home in our county.” “It needs at least six bedrooms so Chloe doesn’t have to share a bed with her brother anymore.” “I heard there’s a discount. We can get it all cash for about seven hundred grand.” Listening to her ramble in my ear, I instantly flashed back to the horrors of my past life. I immediately started screaming for the campus security guards. But Chloe stepped out, blocking the guard’s path. She pulled out her phone and played a video. In the video, under the old oak tree at the entrance to their village, I was wearing a pure white wedding dress, kneeling on one knee before Caleb. I looked pathetic, begging Caleb to marry me. Finally, after I cried and pleaded relentlessly, Caleb accepted the proposal. And the ecstatic woman in the video looked and sounded exactly like me. Even when Caleb said those gross, cheesy romantic lines, he used my name. Just like when they kidnapped me in my past life, she used a few words to completely dispel the guard’s suspicions. She smiled and walked over to the old woman. “Mom, what do you think?” “Is she to your liking?” The old woman shook her head, sucking her teeth. “Average.” Just then, Caleb arrived, driving his beat-up van. Seeing that I was about to fall back into the hell of my past life, I quickly pulled out my phone to call 911. But Caleb sprinted over, snatched my phone, and smashed it on the ground under his boot. Chloe laughed, throwing a smug look my way. “Well? Still think your money makes you better than everyone else?” “Why don’t you get on your knees and beg me right now?” “Maybe if I feel bad for you, I’ll toss you some scraps.” Despair swallowed me whole. It felt like I was constantly trapped in a dense fog. But just as they started dragging me toward the van… My eyes widened. Suddenly, it all made sense. I think I finally understood what was going on. The next second, I yelled at the mother and son. Hearing my words, the mother and son froze. Caleb gritted his teeth and slapped Chloe hard across the face. “Chloe! Is that how you talk to your classmates?” “Is this how Mom and I raised you?!” 06 Chloe was stunned by the slap. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. But Caleb wasn’t satisfied. He grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the face. Blood immediately sprayed from her nose. As she wailed and sobbed under the beating, the old woman turned to look at me. “Are you sure you have a way to make Chloe marry your brother?” Given the desperate situation, I had no choice but to use my brother, who was overseas, as a shield. I just hoped that when he found out, he’d feel sorry enough for his little sister not to accidentally kill me. Thinking of this, I nodded firmly. “You know my family is rich, but as a girl, I can’t inherit the business.” “My brother is different. Not only is he more capable than me, but he also built a publicly traded company from scratch.” “He’s definitely going to take over the family business in the future.” The old woman’s eyes gleamed greedily. She immediately glared at Caleb. “Beat her!” “Beat her hard!” “She almost cost our family a one-way ticket to the top, and she still claims to be some ‘main character with a script’?” “I think she’s a jinx!” The words “main character” made my expression freeze. Just a moment ago, I had wondered if Chloe had superpowers or was an alien. But reality was even more absurd than I imagined—she was a time-traveler with a “system”! No wonder she could casually pull out “evidence” to deceive everyone. I wanted to see how she planned to thrive in a family that sucked the marrow from their own bones! When I looked back, Caleb had already beaten Chloe half to death. The old woman pressed me again about my earlier promise. I nodded with absolute certainty. “Of course.” “My parents spoil me the most.” “If he wants to bring someone home, it just takes one word from me.” “It’s just that…” I looked at Chloe with a feigned expression of difficulty. “You know, wealthy families value capability over looks.” “Chloe is just too pretty.” “I’m afraid people might think she’s just a trophy wife. If rumors start spreading, it could affect my family’s stock price.” Hearing this, Chloe, who had just regained consciousness, gasped in shock. “Bullshit!” “Mom! Caleb! Don’t listen to her! She’s lying!” “I’m the only one who knows the plot!” “You have to listen to me! Tie her up, and we’ll have more money than we can spend!” “If she hadn’t accidentally died in her past life! I wouldn’t have…” At that moment, I finally realized that Chloe had been reborn just like me. But facing her impotent rage, I covered my mouth in feigned concern. “Chloe! Kidnapping is a felony!” “Are you trying to help them, or ruin them?” That comment made Caleb frown deeply. He walked toward Chloe again. “Still spewing nonsense at a time like this?” “I think Summer makes a lot of sense.” “Instead of focusing on dressing up, you should be figuring out how to be worthy of a billionaire’s wife!” With that, he grabbed a handful of mud from the ground and smeared it all over Chloe’s face. “No more makeup for you from now on!” “Do you think my money grows on trees?!” Seeing her face covered in foul-smelling mud, Chloe completely broke down. After all, despite her poor background, she was incredibly vain. In my past life, all the money I made from selling my body went straight to buying her makeup. Seeing her hysterical breakdown, I finally let out a sigh of relief. It seemed my gamble had paid off. Everything that happened made me realize that she didn’t actually like me. In fact, she despised me. The only reason she wanted to kidnap me was to wring every last drop of value out of me. Now, all of that was going to backfire spectacularly on her. It was time for me to personally send this entire family straight to hell.

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Carter Hayes broke up with me out of nowhere and immediately eloped with a younger girl. Nearing thirty, I was rejected at every blind date my mother set me up on. Five years later, we had a college reunion. They were the picture-perfect, wealthy couple: driving a Mercedes, wearing Arc’teryx jackets, and carrying Louis Vuitton. I, on the other hand, showed up on a bicycle and was immediately isolated in the corner. Until… A busybody intentionally asked, “Chloe, why didn’t your husband come?” I smiled and said, “He’s busy ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ.” 01 I met Carter Hayes the year I first arrived in this city. Right outside the campus gates, I ran into an older couple desperately asking for bus fare. When I refused, they chased me down the street, screaming curses. “You’re so young, yet you have absolutely no heart!” “You heartless little bitch, no man is ever going to want you!” My face flushed crimson, and I was shaking with anger. That was exactly when Carter appeared. A massive group of young frat guys was walking by, right at the peak of their reckless, hot-blooded years, and they immediately shielded me behind them. Carter was the most handsome, most arrogant-looking guy in the pack. He was spinning a Wilson basketball on his finger, wearing limited-edition sneakers. He flashed me a row of white teeth. “You alright, freshman?” Naturally, he quickly found out that I wasn’t a freshman—we were in the same graduating class—but that didn’t stop him from pursuing me. And just like that, we got together. He came from a comfortable, upper-middle-class suburban family. I came from a small, rural Midwestern town. During our sophomore year, Carter took me home to meet his parents. I carried a fruit basket, trailing nervously behind him. But to my surprise, Carter’s mother was incredibly friendly to me. I breathed a sigh of relief. Carter winked at me and whispered, “See? I told you my mom would like you.” I couldn’t hide my happiness. At the time, I didn’t know that his mother didn’t actually like me. She was just lenient because Carter was a boy. It was just a college fling; in her eyes, he wasn’t the one who stood to lose anything. Just like that, we dated all the way to our senior year. The year we graduated, my parents wanted me to move back home. I knew moving back meant I wouldn’t find a decent job. I brought it up with Carter. He grabbed my hand in a panic. “No way, you can’t go back!” “But the cost of living here is too high. I’m not sure I can survive on my own.” Carter pulled me into a tight hug. “It’s fine. I’ll have my dad get you an easy administrative job. I’ll handle the money. All you have to do is focus on being Mrs. Hayes.” In that moment, all my anxiety and hesitation melted away. But I didn’t actually need his dad’s help to find a job. I just wanted a safety net, an option in case I failed. My degree was much more marketable than Carter’s. In the end, Carter went to work as an HR recruiter at his dad’s friend’s company. I went through grueling rounds of interviews and landed a job as a Product Manager at a top-tier tech firm. I stayed in the city. But life isn’t a fairy tale where reaching a milestone guarantees a happily ever after. Acing your finals doesn’t mean you’re set for life. Getting into a good college doesn’t either. Staying with him wasn’t the finish line. Even walking down the aisle or having kids isn’t the absolute end. 02 Regarding marriage. The second year after graduation, my parents urged me to get Carter to make a commitment. I was too embarrassed to push it, afraid of looking desperate, so I brought it up casually as a joke. Carter’s hands paused on his gaming controller, pretending he didn’t hear me. His mother remained friendly, but she never once brought up the topic of a wedding. The fourth year after graduation. My former college roommate asked why we still weren’t married. I forced a lighthearted tone and said, “We’re still young! No need to rush into the grave of romance.” In the blink of an eye. The sixth year after graduation. Also our tenth anniversary. Valentine’s Day. I booked a restaurant with incredible ambiance. Halfway through dinner, I smiled and asked, “Should we… maybe start thinking about getting married?” Under the romantic candlelight, the soft, affectionate look on Carter’s face instantly went ice-cold. He said, “Fine. I’ll go back and talk to my mom.” I exhaled, relieved to have escaped the suffocating awkwardness, and quickly changed the subject. But there was never any follow-up. I asked a few more times, and every time, he looked intensely annoyed. Finally, during an argument sparked by something trivial, he blurted out the truth— “Chloe, my mom refuses to let me marry you!” I froze. Yet, deep down, I wasn’t even that surprised. The argument came to a screeching halt. Carter realized what he had just said. But he didn’t try to take it back. He didn’t say another word and even pulled out his phone to scroll. My anger wasn’t hot like fire; it was more like freezing lake water creeping up my body. Suffocating and bone-chilling. “So, you never planned on marrying me at all. Did you?” Carter irritably rubbed his temples. Acting like he had nothing left to lose, he snapped, “We were doing perfectly fine dating like this, weren’t we? Why the hell do we have to get married?” “What does a piece of paper even do?” “Besides, your career is peaking right now. Wouldn’t getting married just ruin your trajectory…” Every word was an excuse. Every sentence was a deflection. I cut him off. “Carter, you seriously disgust me.” He was the person I knew best in the world, yet in that moment, he was a total stranger. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. But Carter had long passed the phase of his life where my tears made him feel protective or guilty. He cursed under his breath, then looked at me with pure mockery. “Chloe, stop acting like you’re such a victim. Stop pretending you love me so much.” “You just want to marry into a higher tax bracket. My mom’s country club is full of small-town girls with the exact same agenda.” “I am the absolute ceiling of what you could ever hope to pull. You’re pressing me so hard because you’re terrified I’ll get away.” Before he could even finish, I turned and walked out. That night, I crashed at a friend’s place. The next morning, I stared at my swollen, red eyes in the mirror and quickly washed my face. When you’re an adult, no matter how heartbroken you are, you still have to clock in for work. It wasn’t like Carter and I hadn’t fought before. We’d always broken up and gotten back together. My friend told me Carter went way too far this time, and I shouldn’t forgive him easily. I had just typed “Okay,” when a text from Carter popped up on my screen: “My family requires someone from our own social class. Chloe, let’s break up.” My phone nearly slipped from my hands and shattered on the floor. 03 After the abrupt, cliff-drop of a breakup, I couldn’t stop myself from stalking all of Carter’s social media accounts. I was desperately searching for evidence that he still loved me. I found absolutely nothing. I checked again and again. Until he posted a short video. It was public. He was holding hands with a girl, walking in the sunlight. I clicked the video and heard his mother’s voice behind the camera: “You two look so perfect together! Get closer!” This new relationship was proudly displayed in the daylight, receiving the exact blessing I had never been given. The caption read: [Stop peeking at other people’s happiness like a rat in the gutter.] I didn’t shed another tear. My fingers were trembling violently. When I went to block and delete his number, I missed the button several times. Once my mom heard we broke up, her hopes of dragging me back to my hometown reignited. “You guys broke up, what’s the point of staying in that expensive city?” My aunt chimed in, “Hurry up and come back! Sigh, I’ve already contacted a few high-quality young men for you, but their families think your age is a bit of an issue…” I rejected them, just like always. The only difference was that Carter was no longer my reason for staying. I stayed at that tech giant for six years. My resume and capabilities had hit a hard glass ceiling there. My status as a thirty-something, unmarried, childless woman was viewed as a massive liability by the executives. After the breakup, I threw my entire soul into my work. For a long time, I practically slept at the office. By the end of the year, my team had crushed our KPIs better than anyone else. But in the end? I got a pat on the back and empty promises. The highly coveted promotion was handed to a male colleague who had a wife and kids. In the company Slack channel, the newly promoted colleague announced he was treating everyone to coffee. A long line of “Thanks, boss!” emojis flooded the chat. Followed by a few jokes about “don’t forget us when you’re rich.” I looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows. Skyscrapers pierced the clouds; the traffic below was endless. The people sitting in these cubicles cycled out year after year, every single one of them exactly like me, and yet completely different. Maybe. Maybe it was time for me to change lanes. I submitted my resignation that very day. Years later, whenever I recalled that moment, it was crystal clear. The biggest, most life-altering decisions usually happen on the quietest, most ordinary days. 04 Five years later. The college reunion. Only about half the graduating class actually showed up. Classmates I hadn’t seen in years subtly eyed the bicycle I had ridden in on. “Wait, is that Chloe?” I smiled and waved. “Long time no—” Before I could even finish my sentence, a sleek Mercedes pulled up, and a stunningly dressed young woman stepped out of the passenger side. She was wearing a Chanel tweed suit and looked quite a bit younger than the rest of us. It took me a solid minute to put the pieces together. That was Carter’s wife, Tiffany Brooks. She was four or five years younger than our graduating class. She had the pristine face of someone who never had to suffer the stress of a 9-to-5, immaculately manicured down to her toes, clutching a Chanel bag. “Carter practically dragged me here. So annoying, I don’t even know anyone.” Hearing her complain, a classmate immediately kissed up: “Come to a few more of these and you’ll know everyone!” The crowd swarmed her, escorting her inside. The male classmate I had been talking to never gave me a second glance. Once seated, they reserved the seats of honor for Tiffany and Carter, who had just finished parking. I was squeezed into a corner, finding a random empty chair to sit down. But after a few drinks, I don’t know how, but the topic of conversation landed squarely on me. Tiffany looked across the table. “So you’re Chloe?” I paused. Few people called me by my first name like that anymore. It was usually Ms. Bennett. “Carter’s mentioned you to me.” “I want to say ‘sorry’ on his behalf.” She said the word “sorry,” but her expression looked anything but apologetic. “You guys were just way too young back then. And honestly, it’s his fault too. He should have known that girls like you can’t afford to waste time. Aside from your youth, you really didn’t have anything to offer.” The words were incredibly harsh. But no one stepped in to stop her. Everyone was enjoying the drama. Some looked at me with pity; others with thinly veiled glee. Tiffany glanced at my bare fingers and let out a light laugh. “Don’t tell me you still haven’t managed to get married?” “Carter has a new coworker at his firm. He’s in his thirties and hasn’t settled down either, just like you. I mean, sure, he’s a little short and starting to go bald, but he’s a nice guy. I can have Carter set you guys up.” Just as she finished her sentence, Carter walked into the private dining room. Maybe it was because his corporate HR job wasn’t too taxing, but at thirty-three, he still had a boyish, youthful energy. He was wearing a sleek Arc’teryx jacket and carrying a black LV men’s bag, looking as polished as a lifestyle influencer. The moment Carter walked in, his eyes locked onto me. For a split second, he looked stunned, but he quickly recovered and tore his gaze away. He sat down next to Tiffany, affectionately pinched her cheek, and scolded lightly, “Stop messing around.” “My coworker already has a girlfriend.” Tiffany let out a disappointed “Oh.” Watching Carter drape his arm around Tiffany, I felt a strange sense of vertigo. Deeply buried memories flickered in my mind. During the first few years of our relationship, he used to love holding me like that. He practically wanted to be glued to my side. I listened to them chat. Apparently, they had lived a fantastic life these past few years. They traveled abroad, adopted a Corgi, bought a house. Back in college, my roommate had heard the story of how Carter and I met. She had said that a guy brave enough to step in and save a stranger would definitely be a responsible, loving husband someday. I had spent years looking forward to that future. I just never factored in that he didn’t actually want to be my husband. The table endlessly praised Carter for his early success, raving about how becoming an HR Director at a major firm at his age made him a winner in life. A female classmate suddenly chimed in: “Speaking of winners in life, did you guys see the cover of Forbes this week?” “The new partner at Sterling Tech. He’s only twenty-seven and already financially free!” “I heard he’s representing Sterling Tech to ring the opening bell at NASDAQ today!” As she spoke, she pulled up the photo on her phone. Dressed in a sharp bespoke suit, with striking, chiseled features, he looked like a high-fashion runway model. He was so handsome it drew audible gasps from the table. If Carter was the kind of successful guy that made his peers burn with jealousy, this tech billionaire was on a stratosphere so untouchable that jealousy wasn’t even an option anymore. Right then, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Liam Sterling: [Reporting in, Boss. Arrived in New York.] He attached a photo of the view from the airport, though his face took up more than half the frame. The weather didn’t look too warm, but he had already shed his suit jacket. His tie was loosened, and the top two buttons of his dress shirt were undone. He looked a million times better than the stiff, serious photo on the magazine cover. Suddenly, someone at the table called out: “Since Tiffany is so eager to play matchmaker, we haven’t even asked—do you have a boyfriend, Chloe?” I answered instinctively: “I’m married.” The room abruptly went dead silent. Carter’s hands stopped mid-air as he was peeling a shrimp for Tiffany. “Chloe, stop joking around, none of us heard you got married!” “Well, if you’re married, why didn’t your husband come today?” I smiled. “He’s busy ringing the bell at NASDAQ.” 05 Five years ago. When I resigned, I took my two most capable subordinates with me. The hardest part of building a startup is the first step. Finding the right direction, and locking in the absolute resolve to jump. I met Liam Sterling during my second year in business. At the time, Liam had just returned from studying abroad and refused to inherit his family’s empire. He was going to interviews everywhere and hitting wall after wall. His resume was too elite, his salary demands were absurdly high, yet his practical experience was worse than a local state college grad. He peppered his sentences with unnecessary business jargon and came off incredibly pretentious. He bombed the first-round interview at my company. I, the CEO, didn’t even see him. But when I finally left the office after midnight, I saw him. It was 12:00 AM. The night was pitch black. The streetlights flickered. And he was right there. Doing push-ups on the sidewalk. Me: “…” Seeing me, he immediately scrambled up and marched toward me. “Ms. Bennett! I’m Liam Sterling. I interviewed for your company today!” “I strongly believe your company’s trajectory aligns perfectly with my skills. Refusing to hire me is entirely your loss.” There was a very good reason he couldn’t find a job. But it’s true what they say: obscenely good-looking people get away with murder. At the very least, I chose not to call the cops. My rented apartment was just a block away from the office, a ten-minute walk. All the way there, Liam followed me, yapping endlessly about his stellar academic background and trying to showcase his brilliance. I hadn’t slept properly in days. Right now, this man was nothing but a giant, buzzing fly in my ear. We cut through an alley in the older part of the neighborhood. From a distance, I smelled the vile stench of cheap alcohol. Two massive, drunken men had cornered a young woman who, like me, was clearly just walking home from a late shift. The girl shot us a desperate, pleading look. The two drunks noticed us. Their expressions didn’t change; they just sneered, looking entirely unbothered. But when they looked past me at Liam, one of them let out a loud, “Holy shit.” I had just pulled out my phone to dial 911 when a dark shadow launched from behind me. He was as fast as a champion greyhound at the races. Before the two drunks could even react, Liam had them both pinned to the concrete in a single, devastating move. The young girl looked at Liam with stars in her eyes, overflowing with worship and gratitude. And in that exact split second, I decided to hire him. It wasn’t just his heroic bravery that moved me. I wasn’t the naive freshman who had just moved to the city anymore. I hired him because I had to walk this exact dark alley every single night. Plus, with a face like that, I could totally drag him to investor pitch meetings as eye candy. In this day and age, plenty of VCs are willing to throw money at a pretty face. When a person can serve two highly functional purposes, what possible reason did I have to reject him? So, I cleared my throat. “Mr. Sterling, welcome to the team.” A brilliant, blinding light of surprise erupted in Liam’s gorgeous eyes. He genuinely believed his relentless persistence had won me over. I wasn’t wrong. A long time later, when he wrote his autobiography, he wrote this exact line: [Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Water cuts through stone. And that’s how I secured my wife!] But in that moment on the street, I had to put on a very difficult face. “However, Mr. Sterling, as you can see, our company is in its absolute infancy. We simply cannot match your expected salary…” Liam shook his head frantically. “Not a problem! Uh—can you do three thousand a month?” I grimaced. “That might be pushing it… I’ll have to discuss it with the board.” Liam looked deeply disappointed. But the next day, when he was told he could get four thousand, he showed up to his first day of work absolutely thrilled. He completely forgot that during his initial interview, his asking salary was easily triple that number. Just like that, he became my employee. We fought shoulder-to-shoulder in the startup trenches. At the very beginning, he showed up to the office every day looking impeccable and highly fashionable. His hair was perfectly styled with pomade, his jaw cleanly shaved, wearing a tailored three-piece suit, and radiating the expensive scent of Creed Aventus. He looked like he was walking a runway. Just like a fresh grad who still bothers to put on full makeup for a 9-to-5. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for him to become just as ragged and unkempt as the rest of us. One time, we worked overtime for an entire month straight. The final night, we pulled an all-nighter and everyone collapsed on the office floor. When I woke up the next morning, I caught Liam pinching his stomach, dramatically wailing, “Where did my abs go?!” The second he saw me, he sucked his stomach in so hard he turned blue. I could faintly make out a six-pack. For a long time after that, he practically lived at the gym. Even if we logged off at 10 PM, he’d drag himself to the gym for an hour. As for the moment his identity as a billionaire heir was finally exposed… that happened at a client dinner.

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I crouched by the entrance of the local ice cream parlor, grabbing the arm of the man rushing past me. “Hey, the sundaes are buy-one-get-one! Want to split an order with me?” He lowered his phone and his gaze briefly swept over the banner advertising the “Couples Special.” “Oh,” I said. “Are we getting back together then?” Caleb narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. “No can do. I’m spoken for.” “I’ve got a new girl,” he added. “She gets pretty jealous.” I froze. He turned away. “Actually, pack the ice cream up to go. She loves it.” 1 I still hadn’t fully processed what was happening. The cheerful barista had already boxed up the two sundaes. “You two make a lovely couple. Enjoy your evening!” she beamed. Caleb’s expression remained flat. He took his sundae and started walking. His sleek black Range Rover was parked right by the curb. It was sweltering out, so I had been squatting by the entrance of the fruit shop next door, mooching their AC while licking my ice cream. Before getting into his car, he threw me a look that was half-amused, half-mocking. “Need a ride, ‘girlfriend’?” I glanced at his passenger seat. It was decked out with a fluffy pink seat cover and a cute stuffed animal. It practically screamed that it belonged to someone else. “No, I’m good,” I mumbled slowly. “I live close by…” Before I could even finish my sentence, he sped off. “Hey, hey! Don’t block the door!” the shop owner yelled. “Ah, sorry.” My legs were aching from squatting so long. As I stood up, I lost my balance. The sundae in my hand hit the pavement with a splat. Ugh, what a waste. A whole boyfriend traded for a dropped ice cream. I smacked my lips, disappointed, and turned to walk home. My studio apartment was simple and clean. I quietly took down the old, framed photo hanging on the wall. In it, a young man with crinkling eyes was smiling brightly, holding a girl’s hand like it was his most prized possession. In stark contrast, the girl’s face was blank, almost painfully cold. I stared at it for a few seconds longer, then tossed it into the trash can. Tsk. No wonder I looked so awful when I tried to smile. No wonder he broke up with me all those years ago. “Meow.” The stray calico I’d picked up rubbed against my legs. I popped open a can of wet food for her. I’d bought it yesterday during a “buy two, get one free” sale at the supermarket. When you’re used to being broke, missing out on a deal physically hurts. I almost regretted not asking him for a breakup fee back then. Just then, an unknown number called my phone. I answered. It was Caleb. His voice was still as cold as ice. “If we’re getting back together, aren’t you going to add me back on Instagram?” “Do you know how annoying it is to call you?” I quietly muttered an “oh” and was about to say something else. But then, a woman’s sweet, whiny voice drifted through the receiver. “Caleb, I’m hungry…” He hung up immediately. The dial tone echoed in my ear. Honestly, that whole “getting back together” thing was a joke… I wanted to tell him to just forget it. But remembering the voice I just heard, it didn’t feel right to call him back. I typed in his Instagram handle. User not found. His phone number? Also out of service. I slowly hugged my phone and lay back on my bed. Caleb had forgotten that he was the one who deleted me. 2 Later, I remembered to use the phone number from the call to add him as a contact. He accepted the request quickly, but didn’t say a word for half the day. I quietly snooped through the six years of his life since he left. His social media feed was quiet and monotonous. Until last year, when a vibrant girl in a red dress appeared—she looked a lot like I used to. From that day on, Caleb posted more often. His smile wasn’t as blazing as it used to be, but it radiated a quiet, steady happiness. I stared at the screen, a little dazed. Halfway through scrolling, the screen went black. It seemed he suddenly remembered and blocked me. I slowly finished my last bite of instant ramen. I tossed my phone aside and wrapped myself tightly in my blanket. I didn’t sleep a wink all night. For the next few days, it was like both of us had completely forgotten the incident. I prepped my lessons, went to the middle school to teach, fed the cat—my life was a simple two-point line. He was busy with his tech company, flying out for negotiations and meetings. Occasionally, I’d see him on the local news. Caleb Thorne, Tech Prodigy, Rises to Power, Acquires Rival Firms. Whenever Chloe came over, she’d bring groceries. We’d sit on the couch, munching on watermelon, and watch the news together. His success had made a lot of wealthy heiresses eager to throw their hats in the ring. “Mr. Thorne, you’ve rejected all proposals for an arranged marriage. May we ask why?” a bold reporter asked on TV. Caleb narrowed his eyes, his demeanor composed yet aloof. But a fleeting, almost imperceptible warmth flashed in his eyes. “I have a girlfriend.” Everyone assumed it was the girl living in his mansion. Chloe poked me, hesitating before asking, “Didn’t you just say you guys got back together? Is he going to marry you?” “I mean, the way he chased you back in high school… the whole town knew about it.” I stared at the polite, distant man on the screen. I shook my head. I tapped her lightly on the head. “Dummy, who becomes someone’s girlfriend over a scoop of ice cream?” Caleb clearly didn’t care about me at all. “I know, but he was the Caleb who loved you more than anything in the world!” She counted on her fingers. “You guys skipped class together, won stuff at the arcade, had your first kiss.” “Every time you even looked at him, that cold, untouchable guy would come running like an eager puppy.” The memories felt so distant now. “By the way, tell me honestly… did you really dump him because you cheated?” I hummed softly and shook my head truthfully. Chloe fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject. “It’s okay, don’t be sad. It’s not like we’re short on men.” I looked up and said slowly, “I was fine to begin with.” She choked on her words, tied on an apron, and went into the kitchen to cook. “Tsk. I should have known you don’t have a heart. Hurry up and help me.” I thought things would just go back to normal. Until one night, he initiated a text. [Let’s grab dinner tomorrow night.] [I’ll wait for you downstairs.] I had just gotten out of the shower when I saw the message. Right, it had been six years since the breakup. Maybe it was because I was getting older, but I just felt lazy. I was still living in the same small apartment we used to share. After staring at the screen for a while, I finally remembered to decline. [No thanks, I have plans tomorrow.] His reply was brief. [I’m only waiting three minutes.] Cold, distant, and impatient. It hit me then. He was no longer the Caleb who catered to my every whim. But honestly, I really didn’t want to go to that dinner. I thought about it for a moment, then started typing. [Ah, I’m really sorry. I didn’t actually mean anything by it. It was just that the ice cream special was so rare, and it was so hot out…] [And you were the only person on the street I recognized. It would be rude to ask a stranger to split an order, at least we used to date…] [Let’s just drop it. It’s better for everyone.] The more I wrote, the messier it got. I deleted the whole thing. I just sent one sentence. [I was joking about getting back together the other day. Sorry about that.] I sat there holding my phone for a while. He didn’t reply. I sighed. All that bitterness from six years ago… let’s just leave it in the past. 3 I didn’t think much of it. He was probably too lazy to argue and just blocked me again. But when I came home from teaching that afternoon… I ran right into Caleb at the school gates. He was leaning lazily against his car, drawing a crowd of staring schoolgirls. “Is that Caleb Thorne? Wow, he’s so handsome!” “Yeah, he was the state valedictorian eight years ago!” Caleb was staring blankly at the oak trees on campus. I quietly tried to walk past him, but he called out. “Maya.” “Long time no see. Turns out you’ve been teaching at Lincoln High this whole time.” Lincoln High was our alma mater. A mocking glint appeared in his eyes. “What, feeling nostalgic? Couldn’t bear to leave?” I blinked, letting out a confused “ah.” “Yeah, I couldn’t bear to leave. They offered me double the salary.” Caleb’s expression darkened. “Hmph. Still as obsessed with money as ever, I see.” I honestly couldn’t read his expression. He pulled open the car door and got in. “Get in.” I said slowly, “I really can’t go…” Caleb calmly rolled down the window. “The seafood boil is half off today.” I asked in a small, uncertain voice, “Can I get it to go?” He looked like he was so annoyed he was going to laugh. “Whatever you want.” I quickly climbed into the backseat. He was driving a different car today, a Porsche Cayenne. It looked barely used, and the passenger seat was free of all those pink accessories. Caleb drove in total silence. I leaned against the window, neither of us speaking. Honestly, I didn’t understand why he came looking for me. I clearly told him it was a joke, and he didn’t seem like the type to cling to the past. He caught my eye in the rearview mirror. Looking irritated, he pulled out a cigarette. My eyes flickered. I opened my mouth to speak. He was holding the cigarette pack and accidentally pressed a button on the dashboard. A sweet, playful female voice filled the car. “My dearest Caleb, are you in a bad mood again?” “Don’t smoke, okay? Let me sing you a song.” “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…” I froze, and he seemed startled too. He instinctively put the cigarette back. A warm, incredibly soft smile spread across his face. It was almost frightening how happy he looked. Leaving me sitting there, truly and completely uncomfortable. We arrived quickly. It was a casual seafood joint by the pier. Caleb went inside to order, and I leaned against the railing, enjoying the ocean breeze. A drunk, overweight man stumbled over and slung an arm around my shoulder. “Hey there, gorgeous. Where’s your boyfriend?” I quietly pushed his arm off and took a step back. The guy was persistent, continuing to harass me. I caught Caleb’s eye from a distance. He just stood there, watching quietly. It wasn’t until a few men nearby couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped in to stop the guy… That Caleb finally sauntered over. The drunk guy seemed to recognize him and sobered up instantly. “Mr. Thorne, I didn’t know she was with you, I was just…” Caleb smiled and patted the guy on the shoulder. “You can mess with her. It has nothing to do with me.” I stared at him. He shrugged, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “What, I said we’re getting back together, I didn’t say I had to treat you well.” With that, Caleb grabbed the tray of seafood and beers and walked away. 4 He leaned back in his wicker chair. I stood there, refusing to sit. “Eat something first. The to-go boxes won’t hold all of this.” I finally felt like something was off and asked quietly. “Mr. Thorne, did you read my message?” He looked at me calmly, his tone careless. “What message? I don’t have the free time to stare at your chat window all day.” I still didn’t move. He grew impatient. “Are you going to eat or what?” I looked down. Everything on the table was what I usually loved. And I was really hungry. I reached out and tried a skewer. It was so spicy that tears instantly sprang to my eyes. “Cough, cough.” “Doesn’t it taste good?” He watched me with unabashed scrutiny. “Oh, I forgot. This is how I like it.” “In the past, I always went along with your bland food. Tonight, you can just deal with it.” I stayed quiet, rinsing the food in my water glass before eating it. But it only seemed to get spicier. Aside from the heat, the seafood was fresh and tender. He squinted at me for a moment, then raised a hand to call the waiter. “Bring another order of everything on the table. Make it mild this time.” He paused. “And grab a slice of strawberry mousse.” I pulled out a wet wipe and said slowly. “Never mind. I want to go home.” Caleb raised an eyebrow. “What, is that all it takes to make you feel wronged?” It wasn’t that bad, really. It was just that the spice was burning my stomach, and that burning sensation was slowly creeping into my chest. It felt incredibly uncomfortable. I just wanted to go home immediately. I couldn’t even be bothered to pack up the leftovers. He stood up, pushing the plates away. “Fine. Let’s go. I’ll take you.” I opened my mouth to decline. As if anticipating my refusal… He added, “We’re in the marina district. It’s ten miles from your place.” “And you have no sense of direction. Do you want to walk until dawn?” Caleb naturally grabbed my hand. I struggled uncomfortably, but just like in the past, he held on tighter. I couldn’t pull away, so I just gave up. As we were walking out… I pulled out my phone, planning to snap a picture of the restaurant to share the hidden gem with Chloe later. Caleb, who had been staring off into space, suddenly lunged. He swatted the phone out of my hand. “Don’t take pictures!” His voice was loud, instantly drawing the attention of everyone nearby. They all turned to look at us. He said coldly, “If I see a picture of us online, I have ways to ruin you.” I was stunned. It took me a moment to process what he said. My phone hit the ground, the screen shattering completely. I bent down to pick it up, wiping the dirt off the screen. It was a shame, really. It was a brand new phone. I said slowly. “I didn’t want a picture of us, and I certainly wasn’t going to post anything online.” “I just thought the food was good and wanted to bring a friend next time.” 5 A flicker of guilt flashed through Caleb’s eyes, quickly replaced by his usual coldness. He pursed his lips. “I’ll buy you a new one.” “That model is old anyway. It’s from last year.” I shook my head quietly. “No need. There’s no reason for you to buy me anything.” “I’ll call a friend to pick me up. Have a good night, Mr. Thorne.” Caleb narrowed his eyes, grabbing my wrist with a cold sneer. “What do you mean, no reason? Weren’t you the one begging to get back together?” I finally realized what he was talking about and let out an “ah.” I waved my shattered phone. “Didn’t you read my message? I was really just joking.” “What are you talking about?” He frowned and pulled out his phone. My messages were on ‘Do Not Disturb’. It was pretty obvious who had done that. I said apologetically. “I’m so sorry. I really just wanted the discount on the ice cream. If I made you misunderstand, I feel terrible…” “Maya!” His face darkened, cutting me off. He practically gritted his teeth. “So, it was all for a scoop of ice cream?” I blinked, confused. “Yeah.” “…Fine. Maya, you are really something.” He let out a few cold laughs. He kicked a nearby tree hard, sending a shower of oak leaves raining down on me. “Do you have any idea how much I want to strangle you every time I see that blank, indifferent look on your face?” He seemed to finally explode. “You’re an emotional cripple! Who else but me would ever put up with you?” “Don’t regret this.” Caleb walked away, exuding a freezing chill. I stood there, frozen. The people walking by were giving me weird looks and whispering. “So she’s emotionally stunted? She doesn’t even know how to love someone.” “Her poor boyfriend. Dealing with a selfish, cold partner… no wonder he was so mad.” “Ugh, people with that kind of mental issue shouldn’t even date. They just ruin other people’s lives. She belongs in a psych ward…” I looked down at the ground. Caleb was angry again. The breakup six years ago flashed in my mind. He was just as furious and desperate back then. “Maya, why don’t you ever say you love me!” “Say it! Why am I always the one trying? Why do you always look like you couldn’t care less about me!” “Did you want to break up this whole time?!” He slammed his fist on the table, loud and hoarse. We were in a crowded place. The broken glass cut his hand, staining it red, and his eyes were bloodshot. I was genuinely terrified. I didn’t know how to respond. Seeing him like that, I was so scared. Memories from my childhood came rushing back. I covered my ears and screamed. “Then let’s just break up!” As soon as those words left my mouth, everything finally went quiet. But later… even though I took all my medication, it didn’t help. When I finally went looking for him, he already had someone new. Someone who actually knew how to love him. I didn’t know when, but a light drizzle started falling from the sky. I lied to him. No one was coming to pick me up. I quietly knocked on the door of the clinic next door. “Doctor, can you cure emotional detachment?” A man in a white coat happened to be leaning against the doorframe. He glanced at me and spoke lazily. “I guarantee a cure. Give me three sentences, and you’ll be fixed.” I widened my eyes. He coughed. “First sentence: I love you.” Me: “???” I took a closer look at the man in front of me. He had pale skin, a tall, lean build, and both hands stuffed in his coat pockets. He had a cold, aloof face, but his eyes shone like stars. They were bright and incredibly gentle. I was a little distracted. He was almost too beautiful. I was worried I’d stumbled into some shady host club… 6 The head doctor next to me was still enthusiastically winking at me. I silently turned to leave. “Hey, miss!” He flashed his medical ID. Graduated with a Master’s from a top medical school. Dr. Liam Hayes. I vaguely remembered seeing him on the news, doing volunteer work in Africa, curing tropical fevers or something. Well, he was a famous doctor, it seemed. “My name is Liam. Nice to meet you, Ms. Weaver.” His eyes crinkled as he extended a long, elegant hand. I shook it hesitantly. “How do you know my name?” He rubbed his nose. “You guys were pretty loud out there. I accidentally overheard.” I looked down. “But don’t worry, we doctors have strict professional ethics.” “Patient confidentiality is guaranteed.” He quickly explained. I said flatly, “No need to keep it a secret. It’s not a big deal anyway.” With that, I turned to walk away again. “I can really help you!” “Um, if you don’t want to talk about it, do you want to grab some crawfish?” “…” This weird doctor was a total chatterbox. His thought process was all over the place. “Why don’t you come inside and sit for a bit, wait out the rain?” Liam opened the door for me and handed me an umbrella. The rain was pouring now, splashing right in my face. I didn’t take it. He clicked his tongue and brushed the raindrops off his shoulder. Just as I was about to step out the door… Liam called out, “I can help you win him back.” In that instant, my tears suddenly started flowing, mixing with the rain. I didn’t know how long I’d been holding them back. The tears burst out like a broken dam. I couldn’t stop them, no matter how hard I tried. My whole body was shaking, and I was practically choking on my sobs. My fingernails dug deeply into my palms. “What does it matter to you?” I turned to look at him, feeling anger for the first time in a long time. “I don’t need to win him back! There’s no chance for us! He hates me!” Liam seemed stunned. “I’m sorry. I was out of line.” “…I just wanted to help,” he said quietly. Just a stranger. I calmed down quickly. I wiped my eyes and tried to make a joke. “Is this your Hippocratic oath in action? Saving the dying?” He smiled too, nodding. “Then please, tell me, is there any hope for me?” I dropped the umbrella and slowly walked back inside. “Does someone like me, who can’t feel emotions, even deserve to live in this world?” “I don’t know joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. I don’t know how to connect with people…” Liam turned on the heater and poured me a cup of hot tea. “I disappoint them. I let down the people around me. I’m disappointed in myself.” My throat hitched. “They’re right. I’m a cold, unfeeling monster.” I talked faster and faster, spilling more and more, not even knowing what I was saying. By the end, my voice was shaking. His gorgeous eyes curved into crescents. He let out a soft laugh. “You make it sound like a terminal illness.” “It’s nothing, miss. That’s hardly a sickness.” “And I’m a miracle worker! There’s nothing I can’t do…” He started going off-topic again. “Like this one time in Africa, a little girl had terrible ear pain. Everyone did all these tests, thinking it was early-stage leprosy. But I was the one who finally realized she just had a bug in her ear…” I silently stared at the ID badge on his chest. “But you’re a dentist. How are you going to fix my heart?” Liam patted my shoulder confidently. “It’s all connected.” “Just like an earache and a toothache.” “…” He smiled like a sly cat. “Let me teach you how to date.” I frantically waved my hands. What if I ran away again? Liam laced his fingers together and sat in front of me. He started to look serious. “You’ve only had one relationship, right?” I nodded. “Then why do you think that one experience defines your whole life?” I paused and looked up at him. “But in my youth, Caleb was the best person in the world to me.” He stopped smiling.

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I spent two years tending to Damien Thorne after the accident that left him paralyzed. Everyone in our circle assumed that the moment he could walk again, he’d put a ring on my finger. The night his surgery was declared a success, I was the only one who asked, “Do you still want to marry me?” He hesitated. That one simple word—”Yes”—never made it past his lips. I let out a short, dry laugh. “I get it.” I pulled the ring off my finger and walked out of the house I’d called home for two years, and I didn’t look back. 01 “Do you still want to marry me?” Damien froze. He stared down at his legs for a long time, his jaw tight. The muffled sounds of a celebration filtered in through the cracked bedroom door. “The surgeon said the procedure was a miracle. He’ll be back on his feet in a month.” “I honestly thought he was done for. Two years ago, he’d given up on everything.” “It’s all thanks to Claire. She never left his side. I bet there’s a wedding by Christmas. We should start looking at registries.” Damien heard his friends’ cheers, but he remained silent. The air in the room turned heavy, suffocating. Finally, I stood up. I reached for the physical therapy oil and began massaging his knees and calves, just as I had every night for seven hundred days. “Is this pressure okay?” I asked, giving him an out. The tension in his shoulders bled away. He relaxed back into the pillows and whispered, “Yeah. It’s perfect.” “Any discomfort?” He shook his head. “No. You’re better at this than the clinic therapists.” I stared at my hands as they worked. I wasn’t always good at this. In the beginning, he couldn’t stand the touch of a stranger. He’d scream at the professional nurses until they quit. But rehab was non-negotiable. So, I spent three months shadowing a specialist in the city. I practiced on my own muscles until I was bruised, just so I wouldn’t hurt him when I finally touched his legs. The first time I tried, I waited until he was asleep. He was a light sleeper. He woke up and snarled, “Get out! Get the hell out!” I didn’t move. I kept working the pressure points the specialist had shown me. He couldn’t move his legs, so he grabbed his pillow and threw it at my head. I ignored it. Then he grabbed whatever was on his nightstand—books, water glasses—and hurled them at me. The last thing he threw was a framed photo of himself from his college track days. He was holding a trophy, fist pumped, looking invincible. Warm blood trickled down my forehead from the corner of the frame. He watched me, struggling to lunge toward me, but his useless legs kept him pinned. He covered his face and began to sob. “Just leave, Claire. Don’t stay here. It’s useless. I can’t feel a thing. No amount of rubbing is going to fix a broken man.” 02 He was drowning in self-pity back then. I showed up every single day, rain or shine, to work his muscles. It lasted until his mother found him unconscious from an overdose of sleeping pills. After they pumped his stomach, I knelt by his hospital bed. “Look at me,” I said. He looked, his eyes hollow. “Everything is going to be okay,” I told him. “Trust me.” At the time, I didn’t know where that confidence came from. From that day on, I moved into the Thorne estate. Damien’s mother cried as she thanked me over and over. She wanted to ask what our “status” was, but she couldn’t find the words. So I told her: “As long as Damien doesn’t kick me out, I’m staying.” Truth was, he tried to kick me out plenty of times. I just didn’t leave. During one particularly bad session, he screamed, “Get out! Everyone just leave me alone!” He was in his wheelchair then, and he’d smashed half the lamps in the room. But I noticed something—he’d stopped aiming at me. When he was done venting, I walked over to him. “Damien,” I whispered. “Trust me.” I said that for two years. Slowly, he began to feel the pressure. Then a toe twitched. Then he could lift a heel. By the time the surgery happened yesterday, the doctors called it a medical anomaly. The surgery was a total success. Barring any complications, he was going to walk again. 03 When Damien’s mother heard the news, she tried to press a high-limit debit card into my hand. I looked at the plastic and felt a strange sense of vertigo. I hadn’t spent two years of my life for a paycheck. Damien’s friends all called me “the one,” the future Mrs. Thorne. But only I knew the truth: we were nothing. We’d never had an official talk. We’d never even had a proper date. The only thing I had was a promise he made during his first month of recovery, right after a specialist told him he’d likely never walk again. I pushed his wheelchair back to the house, and he broke down the moment the door closed. The golden boy had fallen from his pedestal, and he couldn’t take it. I held him tight. He bit my shoulder in his agony—so deep it left a scar that’s still there today. When he saw the blood, he snapped out of it. “I’m sorry,” he gasped. “God, Claire, I’m so sorry.” As I massaged his legs that night, he whispered, “Claire, the moment I can walk, we’re getting married.” Then he asked, “You’ve had a crush on me since high school, haven’t you?” I didn’t lie. I looked him in the eye and said, “Yes.” He told me he’d marry me, but I didn’t do it for a ring. I did it because I loved him, and I prayed that one day, he’d feel the same. Back in the present, I finished rubbing the oil into his skin. I could feel him watching me. “Claire,” he said softly. “You don’t have to do this anymore.” My hands faltered. I finished the last stroke and looked up. “Damien… do you still want to marry me?” He started to speak, then stopped. He closed his eyes and said nothing. I realized then I was a fool for dreaming. The ring on my finger—the one he’d ordered from his bed and slipped on my hand months ago—felt like a hot iron. 04 I stood up and washed the oil off my hands. The ring was a fraction too small. It had been pinching my skin for months, but I’d ignored the pain. I didn’t even know if he’d guessed the size or if he’d just given me something he already had. “Claire,” he called from the room. “I think of you as a sister.” A tear hit the sink. I wiped it away instantly. Don’t say that, I thought. That’s the cruelest thing you could say to me. I walked out into the living room. The party was still going strong. I looked at Damien and slowly twisted the ring off my finger. My skin was red and indented. For a long time, I’d lied to myself, saying all engagement rings felt tight. But the moment it came off, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. I actually regretted not taking it off sooner. Damien avoided my eyes. I held the ring out to him. “Here. Take it back.” He saw the deep red mark on my finger. “It was a size too small,” I added. He opened his mouth to explain, but I waved him off and pushed his wheelchair toward the guests. 05 As soon as we entered the foyer, his friends swarmed us. “What were you two whispering about? Secrets already?” “Don’t worry, we won’t crash the party today. We’re saving the wild stuff for the bachelor party.” “One more drink and then we’re out of your hair.” Damien’s friends were like him—privileged, but mostly well-mannered. Out of respect for his recovery, they’d brought expensive juices and light catering. “Damien, man,” one of them said. “Once you’re fully cleared, we’re hitting Whistler for a ski trip. Just like old times.” Damien agreed naturally. He didn’t even flinch at the mention of skiing—an activity that used to trigger his darkest moods. His friend turned to me. “You’re coming too, Claire. Damien will book the flights. You’re gonna love the lodge.” Damien looked at me, then shifted the burden. After being rejected twice in one night, I still had a shred of pride left. “You guys go ahead,” I said. But then Damien spoke up. “It’s fine if she comes. “After all, she’s like family. Like a little sister to me.” The room went dead silent. His best friend laughed nervously and swatted Damien’s shoulder. “What are you talking about, man?” Another friend jumped in to smooth things over. “He just had anesthesia yesterday, his brain is scrambled. Don’t mind him, Claire.” The moment passed with forced laughter, but Damien didn’t retract a single word. 06 I remembered what my best friend had asked me when she first saw the ring. “Claire, are you sure about this? “The Thornes live in a different world. If he actually gets better, do you think he’ll really stay?” I hadn’t dared to answer then. I didn’t have to now. Damien had given me the answer. He wouldn’t. The atmosphere of the party remained “harmonious”—soft indie music, talk of old Ivy League days. I looked down and googled Whistler. It was a world-class resort. I realized I didn’t understand half of what they were talking about. My friend was right. We weren’t from the same world. I stood up. Damien’s eyes snapped to me immediately. I went to my room. It was “my” room, but everything in it had been bought by Damien’s mother. I called the woman who had cried tears of gratitude two years ago. “Mrs. Thorne,” I said, my voice steady. “About that card you offered…” She sounded relieved I was bringing it up. “There’s a high six-figure balance on it, Claire. Please, take it. It’s the least we can do for everything you’ve done for my son.” “Thank you,” I said. I didn’t have much to pack. I threw my few personal clothes into a bag and left the rest. I walked through the living room. “Hey, Claire,” one of the friends called out. “It’s late. Where are you heading?” I didn’t want to make it awkward for Damien. I forced a smile. “Just a late-night craving. I’m heading out for some pancakes.” They offered to DoorDash something, but I shook my head. “It’s fine. I need the air.” Damien sensed something. He stared at me, unblinking. I waved to the room. “Goodbye, everyone.” At 1:00 AM, with a debit card in my pocket, I left the life I’d lived for two years. I figured we were even. 07 I found a place of my own in the city. I didn’t have to watch Damien every second anymore. I didn’t have to fear his midnight meltdowns. My body finally relaxed, but it was a shock to the system. I couldn’t sleep. I’d sit on my balcony with a coffee, staring at the few stars visible through the city smog. In the silence, I started listening to my own heart. I thought I’d be devastated. Heartbroken. But I wasn’t. I just rubbed the red mark on my ring finger and wondered how long it would take to fade. That night, the breeze felt cool. The stars felt bright. Damien called me the following afternoon. When I picked up, there was only silence on the other end. Finally, I spoke. “Is something wrong?” “Claire…” he said, his voice hesitant. “I wanted those cinnamon rolls for breakfast. The ones you make.” When he first became paralyzed, he refused to eat. I tried a hundred different recipes. I begged him, tears hitting the floor. “Please, just one bite. You have to eat.” Maybe he got tired of seeing me cry. He finally frowned and took a bite of a cinnamon roll. He didn’t like the store-bought ones. So, I learned how to bake them from scratch. But the silence from the night before was still fresh in my mind. “I’m gone, Damien,” I said calmly. 08 There was a long pause. I didn’t know what else to say, so I hung up. The amount of money in that account was staggering. I stared at the zeroes on the ATM screen, stunned. I checked it three times before I finally understood what my friend meant by “different worlds.” My parents were just normal people. When I told them I was taking care of a paralyzed boyfriend, they even came to visit. Mrs. Thorne had hosted them with such overwhelming “hospitality” that they felt completely out of place. When they got home, my dad told me, “Honey, this is going to be a hard mountain to climb.” They didn’t stop me, though. “Go ahead and try,” my mom said. “If it doesn’t work out, you can always come home.” Two years later, I finally understood Mrs. Thorne’s hospitality. The expensive meals and the constant hovering weren’t just kindness; they were a boundary. She was showing my small-town parents exactly where the line was drawn. I used the money to buy a condo in a nice part of town. There was still a fortune left over. I spent the next two weeks busy with contractors and furniture. Half a month later, I saw Damien again—at a coffee shop right near my new building. His friends were pushing his wheelchair, cheering him on. “Damien, if you don’t win her back, I’m disowning you as a friend.” “Just apologize to her. No one else belongs in that spot but Claire.” “She’s the only one we recognize.” 09 Damien hadn’t been outside much in two years. His skin was pale, and the sunlight made his face look dangerously handsome. He heard his friends’ jokes and gave a non-committal shrug. “Let’s see if she even shows up first.” Ironically, I was sitting at the table right behind them. I instinctively tried to hide, but then a friend I’d made at the gym walked out of the shop and shouted my name. “Claire!” She ran over. “I got that lemon cake you like!” Damien’s table went silent. I saw them follow her gaze until they landed on me. My friend put the cake down, noticed my face, and asked, “What’s wrong?” I realized there was no point in letting them dictate my mood. “Nothing,” I said, forcing a smile. “Sit down. I can’t believe you remembered I liked this cake.” That opened the floodgates. Since we were so close, I couldn’t help but hear their conversation. “It’s fate, Damien. Go apologize.” “You won’t find another girl like her. Trust me.” “If you don’t fix this, we’re done.” I recognized every voice. When Damien was bedridden, they’d come by one by one. There was one girl among them, Sarah, who used to have a massive crush on Damien. When she went into his room to see him back then, Damien had “accidentally” spilled a glass of water on her silk dress. It was a hot day, and the dress was thin. The water made it transparent instantly. Sarah stood there, humiliated. I was the one who found a shawl and covered her up. Damien had just looked at her with cold eyes. “You still like me like this?” Sarah’s eyes were red. I gently led her out of the room. Once outside, she wiped her face and told me, “I don’t like him anymore. He’s not worth it.” She started to walk away, then stopped. She looked at the water stains on the floor and said, “But you’re a good person, Claire. Thank you. “You should stop liking him, too. He doesn’t deserve you.” We became friends after that. We sent each other gifts on holidays. Damien’s friends weren’t bad people. I was lost in thought until I realized Damien was standing right next to my table. He was using a cane now. “Claire,” he said. I looked up. He was frowning, looking like he wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. His friends started cheering. “Go on, Damien! Apologize! Get her back!” Damien’s frown deepened. But I didn’t need an apology. Relationships are supposed to be mutual. Besides, I had the money. I still hadn’t finished counting the zeroes. I didn’t need to be greedy for his heart, too. I looked at him as he stood there struggling. “You don’t need to do this,” I said. “I don’t need an apology.” He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He started to turn away, then stopped. “When are you coming home?” Maybe I hadn’t been clear enough last time. “I’m not coming back, Damien.” He stared at me for a long time, his expression unreadable. Finally, he gave a curt nod. He went back to his table. His friends were buzzing. “So? Did you get her back?” “When’s the wedding?” “When do we get the save-the-dates?” “There is no wedding,” Damien said, his voice flat and annoyed. The table went quiet. Damien repeated it, louder this time. “Why does everyone assume I’m going to marry her? “Am I supposed to marry her just because I’m grateful? “I told you. She’s like a sister to me.” That was the third time. My patience finally ran out. I stood up and addressed the table. “You guys have the wrong idea about the wedding. I was just paid to take care of him.” Damien looked up at me, his eyes dark. I met his gaze squarely. “And don’t bother calling me a sister,” I told him. “Let’s just be strangers.”

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I walked into the classroom. My eyes immediately landed on my boyfriend, Dave. And, of course, the girl practically climbing him like a jungle gym, laughing with her head thrown back. His lifelong best friend, Monica. They both saw me. Dave instinctively shoved Monica away. But Monica just smirked, throwing me a victorious look. “Sorry, Maya. Dave only saved one seat. First come, first served.” The classroom went silent. Every eye in the room was on us. This wasn’t the first time Dave had only saved a seat for Monica. The first time, I felt humiliated. I burst into tears and ran out of the room. The second time, when Monica gave me that same smug look, I stood my ground. We had a shouting match in the middle of the lecture hall, and I forced my way into that seat. But between Dave and Monica, I was constantly starting fights, constantly furious. My hormones were a mess just from the pure rage I was walking around with. And this time, watching them pull the same old stunt. I just couldn’t be bothered. I didn’t try to take the seat from Monica, and I didn’t start a fight with Dave. I didn’t even look at them. I just clutched my textbook to my chest and walked to the back of the room, toward the only open seat left. “Hi,” I said softly, standing over the desk. “Is this seat taken?” 2 The guy sitting there was wearing headphones, his head down as he focused on his notes. He looked up at my voice. His gaze seemed to pause on my face for a second before he pulled his eyes away. Then, he stood up, gesturing for me to take the inner seat. “Thank you,” I said in a low voice, sliding into the desk. At the front of the classroom. The sound of a book being slammed down hard on a desk suddenly rang out. I looked down the row. I was staring right into Monica’s eyes. She was looking back at me, her expression one of unmistakable fury. I suddenly remembered a rumor I’d heard when I first started at this school. Apparently, Monica and the guy sitting next to me, Ethan, were supposed to be engaged, some old family arrangement. I couldn’t help but glance at him. He’d already put his headphones back on and was leaning slightly over his desk, back to solving his problems. I could only see his side profile—distant, cold, and utterly removed. My phone buzzed. I pulled it out. It was a text from Dave. [I lost a bet last night. That’s the only reason I saved Monica a seat today.] [Don’t be mad, babe. I’ll take you out for a huge dinner tonight.] I looked at the words and almost laughed out loud. There was always an excuse. It wasn’t that Monica had been sick and he had to rush her to the hospital, causing him to miss our date. It was that they were “basically siblings” since they grew up together, completely platonic. If they were really “just platonic,” why was he with me? Dave was my first love. And I’d been serious about this relationship. Which was why my happiness, my sadness, my everything was so easily tied up in his actions. But now, I just felt… tired. I didn’t reply. I just exited out of the messaging app. During the lecture break. Monica and Dave started goofing around. “Alright, Dave, you’re dead!” Monica lunged at him, chasing him and playfully swatting his arm. It looked a lot more like flirting than fighting. She reached out and pinched his neck. The expression on Dave’s face looked like he was enjoying it. “Okay, okay! Are you ever going to act like a girl?” “I’m not one of those whiny, high-maintenance girls you usually go for.” Monica’s words were clearly pointed at me as she shot me a look. “I won’t start crying at the drop of a hat to get attention.” “And I don’t use that fake high-pitched voice to get my way. It’s disgusting.” I kept my head down, a small smile playing on my lips. Under the desk, my hand reached out and lightly pulled the sleeve of Ethan’s shirt. “Ethan.” He turned his head to look at me. I pressed my lips together and pointed to his headphones. Ethan didn’t say anything, but he raised his hand and pulled off the earbud closest to me. Then, I spoke, deliberately using that fake high-pitched voice Monica had just described. “Your future fiancée is being awfully flirtatious with my boyfriend. Aren’t you jealous?” 3 Ethan’s eyes were cold and distant. “I don’t have a future fiancée.” “But I heard that you two have an family arrangement.” “An ancient myth.” Ethan’s voice suddenly dropped a few degrees. I couldn’t help but look at him again, my gaze tracing his sharp, strong jawline. Slowly, I let my eyes wander down to his hand, which was holding his pen. The sunlight was streaming through the window, engulfing him. In the light and shadow, his long, slender fingers were as beautiful as carved ivory. I bit my lip, leaning in close to him, and whispered. “Then… want to make a deal?” “A deal for what?” Ethan suddenly turned his face toward me. I didn’t have time to pull away. A faint, cool, and incredibly pleasing scent of mint washed over me. My breath hitched for a second. “A deal to be your girlfriend.” Ethan actually put down his pen. “What’s in it for me?” My cheeks burned. I looked down, my long eyelashes casting shadows. On the right side of my chin, a bright red, swollen pimple had formed. Right now, it was stinging and itching. My roommate had told me it was definitely a hormonal breakout from stress. In the front row, Dave and Monica were still acting completely inappropriately. Monica was sitting on her desk, playfully kicking Dave. Every now and then, she’d deliberately look back at me and laugh incredibly loud. It was supposed to be a carefree, open laugh. But to me, it was the most irritating sound in the world. When Monica first met me, her attitude had been awful. Dave was introducing us. She was standing right next to Dave, her arm slung over his shoulder like one of his bros. She’d scanned me from head to toe. Then she’d punched Dave’s arm. “You motherfucker! I should have known you liked this type of delicate little flower girl.” “If you ever treat your girlfriend better than your bro, I’ll be the first person to call you a pussy.” Dave had laughed so hard back then. He must have really enjoyed it. I took a deep breath. When Monica deliberately laughed again and looked my way. Under the table, I pulled Ethan’s sleeve again. “It’ll relieve your stress, and it’ll stabilize my hormones. We both win.” I’d heard a few things. The research project Ethan was working on was incredibly difficult. He’d pulling all-nighters in the lab for weeks now. Ethan didn’t say anything. His beautiful hand just picked up the pen on his notebook and started twirling it. A long moment passed before he looked at me again, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. “That doesn’t sound too bad. Only…” I held my breath instinctively. The sunlight suddenly disappeared behind a cloud. And Ethan’s voice suddenly turned cold. “I’m not interested in other people’s girlfriends.” 4 Class started again. Monica had gone back to sitting normally in her own seat. The professor walked in again. The noisy classroom slowly went quiet. I spoke in a voice that only Ethan could hear, whispering to him. “I’m already planning on breaking up with him.” Ethan looked straight ahead at the blackboard. “Then break up first. We’ll talk after.” I didn’t dare say another word to him. He was the famous, untouchable genius of the school. When he was serious, he radiated a cold, distant “do not disturb” vibe. For the rest of the lecture. I kept my head down, focusing on the blackboard and the professor. But only I knew that my mind was miles away. Right before class ended. Dave suddenly sent me another text: [Something came up tonight. We’ll have to do dinner tomorrow.] [I promise I’ll make it up to you this weekend.] [How many times do I have to tell you? Monica and I are just bros.] [Fine, if we hang out this weekend, I promise not to let her come.] I didn’t reply. The moment class ended, Monica dragged Dave out of the room. Before they left, she threw one more look toward the back row. But she wasn’t looking at me. She was looking at Ethan. But Ethan was wearing his headphones, packing up his notes, not looking up. Monica looked disappointed as she quickly dragged Dave away. “Ethan, can I add you on Instagram?” He stood up, and I worked up the courage to stop him. Ethan didn’t pull up his QR code for me to scan. “Break up first.” He was so tall that when he looked down at me. I felt like I was being exposed. Like there was nothing I could hide from his eyes. I couldn’t meet his gaze. I just pulled up my last conversation with Dave and showed it to him. In a very small voice, I said, “Look. We’re already broken up.” Ethan looked at the screen. Then, right in front of him, I deleted Dave’s contact. “Do you believe me now?” Ethan’s face, a face so handsome it should have been a crime, was still blank. But he pulled out his phone, pulling up his own QR code. “Scan me.” 5 After adding each other, Ethan left immediately. He’d been practically living in the lab for the last two days and was swamped. We made plans to meet up on Saturday night. I watched him walk away until his back was completely out of sight. Then I just sat there in my seat, dazed. If Ethan’s profile picture wasn’t right there in my new contacts list. I almost would have believed that everything that just happened was a figment of my imagination. That night, I had insomnia. Monica posted a ton of Instagram stories. They were all photos of their old high school friend group hanging out. But in almost every single photo, Dave and Monica were the center of attention. The last photo was of Dave and Monica kissing. I couldn’t be completely unfazed. But I just let out a self-deprecating laugh. Then I deleted Monica from my contacts. And I posted a new photo to my own story. It was a picture my roommates had taken of my back when we were walking on the track earlier that night. It was beautiful, pure. I added a single caption. “Nothing but single, clean vibes over here.” As soon as the story went up, my phone exploded. Several mutual friends immediately commented with “???” “Maya, are you and Dave fighting?” “No way, did you guys break up?” “I knew this day would come. It’s because of Monica, right?” I didn’t reply to any of them. Because Ethan had just sent me a direct message. [Not asleep yet?] [A little insomnia. How about you? Still in the lab?] [Yeah. Things aren’t going well tonight.] Ethan sent a picture. “The results aren’t matching up. Even after running the simulation.” [What are you going to do? Is it urgent?] [Very. I have to submit the report tomorrow.] [Then… I won’t bother you.] A few seconds later, Ethan suddenly sent an audio message. “Didn’t you say you were going to relieve my stress?” His voice was a low, tired rasp. It carried a deep, unshakeable weariness. I shot upright in my bed. My cheeks were burning, my heart pounding so fast I thought it was going to burst out of my chest. I typed out a few words, deleted them, then started over, not knowing what to say. Ethan sent another message: “The pimple on your chin… does it still hurt?” I bit my lip, biting it so hard I left deep tooth marks. [It hurts. And it itches.] 6 Ethan picked me up and took me to his lab. As soon as the door opened, the first thing I saw was a desk. On it was a piece of tortoise shell and a single stick of lit incense. “My predecessor left that. He said it’s incredibly powerful.” On the other side of the room, on one of the petri dishes, a very old handwritten protective talisman was taped. Ethan explained again, “My other predecessor left that one. We can’t take it off. If we do, the mold won’t grow.” I quickly pulled my hand away from the talisman. So this was what a lab at a top-tier university looked like. It turned out that at the end of science was ancient spirituality. Ethan pulled on a clean lab coat. He leaned against a windowsill, the bloodshot veins in his eyes visible. “Unfortunately, none of it worked tonight.” “What are you going to do?” Ethan shook his head. “I don’t know.” “I just have to run the simulation again.” “Then… will my being here distract you?” Ethan smiled. “No. I have to wait for the data anyway. It gets boring sitting here alone.” “Then I’ll keep you company.” I walked over and leaned against the windowsill right next to him. The moonlight was soft and gentle. It was engulfing him, and it was engulfing me. I don’t know where the courage came from. “Ethan.” “Hmm?” “My chin… it really hurts.” “I’ll go buy you some ointment…” “My roommate said… it’s a hormonal breakout from stress.” I turned around, tilting my face up to him in the moonlight. “Can you help me stabilize my hormones?” 7 Before I could stand on my tiptoes, close my eyes, and kiss him. Ethan beat me to it. He cupped my face with both hands and lowered his head, a deep kiss that was anything but gentle. At first, his movements were stiff and awkward. But very quickly, he seemed to find his rhythm. His long, slender fingers laced through my thick, cool hair. He held the back of my head, pulling me into him, deepening the kiss. I was so nervous I was shaking. Instinctively, I raised my hands to push him away. Ethan stopped. “Maya.” He softly whispered my name. The moonlight was hazy, reflecting in his eyes. His voice was colder than the moonlight itself. “If you want to regret this now, if you want to go back to Dave.” “There’s still time.” I didn’t say a word. I just closed my eyes again and lightly wrapped my arms around his neck. As the sound of soft, wet kisses filled the air. The equipment beside us suddenly started let out a few beeps. “Beep, beep.” “Ethan?” I jumped, automatically trying to push him away. But my damp fingers were held tightly in his grip. “The simulation was successful.” “Maya, we can’t stop yet.” Ethan picked me up and sat me on the windowsill. He brushed away the damp hair sticking to my cheek. He pulled me into another kiss, deeper and heavier this time. “How much longer…” My voice was trembling slightly. My legs felt like jelly. “Until it stops beeping.” “Until the data is completely stable.” “What if it keeps beeping?” Ethan let out a soft laugh by my ear. He lowered his head, pressing against my swollen lips. “Then… maybe a simple kiss won’t be enough.” 8 My eyes snapped wide open. “That, would that… be too fast?” Ethan kissed me again, a shallow smile playing in his eyes. The “beep, beep” of the equipment continued. Slowly, deliberately, he deepened the kiss again, inch by inch. Just as I was starting to lose my mind, completely drowning in him. He gently released me. The pad of his finger brushed against the corner of my mouth, gently wiping away the traces of our kiss. His voice was a low drone right by my ear: “What would be too fast?” “Did you think I was going to do something to you?” “In a lab… with you?” “Ethan!” I was so angry I shoved him. Ethan didn’t move to stop me, letting me push him back a step. He ended up leaning against the lab bench behind him. He wasn’t angry either. His face, usually so cold and distant. Right now, it was still tight with a raw hunger. His lips quirked up slightly, a dangerous, playful smile on his face. If I hadn’t heard it myself… I never would have believed that Ethan, of all people, could say something so explicit. He rarely smiled, maybe this was why. When he did smile, where was the cold, untouchable genius everyone admired? He was just a complete and utter asshole. I pulled my gaze away, a blank look on my face, and turned to walk out. As I passed by him. He suddenly gripped my wrist. And right at that moment, the “beep, beep” of the equipment abruptly stopped. In the same second, Ethan pulled me into his arms. “The simulation was successful.” Saying that, he rested his chin lightly against the side of my neck. “Maya… thank you.”

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I found a bottle of women’s personal lubricant in my husband’s gym bag. I didn’t yell. I didn’t cause a scene. I simply swapped the contents for Super Glue. At 2:00 AM, our new night nanny was rushed to the ER. 01 Mark was in the master bathroom taking a shower. His phone, sitting inside his gym bag, kept buzzing, waking me up just as I had managed to fall asleep. I pulled it out to check. It was just a spam call. I hung up and put the phone back in its place. But my fingers accidentally brushed against something else in the bag. It felt cold. Smooth. Like a small bottle. I hesitated for a second. Curiosity got the better of me. It was a pink bottle. The packaging featured a provocative anime-style woman. The text was entirely in Japanese. No matter how you looked at it, it didn’t seem like something innocent. My heart tightened. I quickly used a reverse image search app on my phone to scan the bottle. The results that popped up made my blood run cold. It was a women’s personal lubricant. An “intense stimulation” formula. And the seal was broken; it had clearly been used. The room spun. It felt like I had been hit over the head with a baseball bat. I was still recovering from giving birth. Obviously, this wasn’t something he was using with me. Mark—was he having an affair? 02 The thought felt like a sharp knife plunging into my heart. The shower kept running, but my mind was in absolute chaos. With trembling hands, I unlocked his phone. [Sweetheart] was pinned to the top of his messages. That was me. The rest of his texts were just mundane conversations about work and daily life. So ordinary, you couldn’t find a single flaw. TikTok, Instagram, hotel booking apps, even his mobile games… I quickly went through all of them. But I couldn’t find a single suspicious trace. Could it be… Was this bottle just a prank from one of his friends? I was desperately trying to find a reasonable excuse for the lubricant. But the next second… My finger accidentally swiped into a folder labeled “Work.” Inside, there was a baby tracking app. This wasn’t right! Mark had a touch of OCD. He organized his apps meticulously. Why would a baby tracking app be in his “Work” folder? My heart skipped a beat. My finger, almost out of my control, tapped the app. The chat logs inside made my blood turn to ice. 03 March 8th. The day I was rushed to the ER with a threatened miscarriage. He stayed by my bedside the entire night. [I’ve held out for 3 months, I finally thought I could get some action, and she turns out to be useless.] [Go get a room near the hospital tonight. I’m dying over here.] [Skip the lingerie this time, wear the nurse outfit. That gets me going!] May 20th. The day we took my maternity photos. He proposed to me all over again in front of everyone, promising to celebrate 52 anniversaries with me. [When she cries, her fat just jiggles. It’s disgusting.] [I’m “going on a business trip” tomorrow. Come keep me company for a few days.] [I miss you so much. I want to destroy you!] September 10th. The day I was lying in the delivery room, hooked up to an IV. He cried harder than I did, swearing he would never let me suffer like this again. [I heard women are ruined down there after having a baby, how are you still so tight?] [I miss you again. Send me a video so I can look at you.] [Can you come to the hospital bathroom right now? I can’t take it.] October 6th. The day of our wedding anniversary. We took our first family portrait. He smiled and said we were the happiest family of three. [You screamed so loud right in front of her today.] [She has no idea. Just holding the baby and smiling at me like an idiot.] … And the most recent message read: [Let’s play a little rough tonight!] 04 A wave of intense nausea rose in my stomach. I covered my mouth tightly. Terrified I would vomit right there. These filthy, disgusting words… they actually came from Mark’s mouth? The “reliable” Mark? I couldn’t understand. I really couldn’t. He had always been so good to me. He came home on time every day, put his paycheck into our joint account. During my pregnancy, he took over all the household chores. He tirelessly massaged my swollen legs every night and carefully rubbed stretch mark cream on my belly. He even washed my underwear by hand, laughing while doing it. He treated me like glass, terrified I would break. Every time I went in for a prenatal checkup, he was so anxious the night before he couldn’t sleep. When I was in labor, he waited outside the delivery room, sobbing louder than I was. Other new mothers couldn’t get a full night’s sleep, but I woke up naturally every morning. Because Mark had arranged everything perfectly beforehand. A top-tier night nanny, a specialized postpartum diet plan, parenting classes. He even got up every night to soothe the baby. Just so I could sleep a little longer. Even my best friend said that men like him were one in a million. Yeah. How could a man like that cheat? But reality had just slapped me hard in the face. Mark was cheating. And it started while I was pregnant. I raised my hand and wiped away my tears, taking a deep breath. No! Now is not the time to cry. Crying doesn’t solve any problems. I used my phone to take pictures of every single chat log. Then, I emptied the bottle of lubricant and replaced the liquid with Super Glue. I didn’t know who Mark was cheating with. But tonight. The truth would come to light. 05 Just as I put everything back in its place, The bathroom door opened. Mark walked out, drying his wet hair with a towel. Seeing me sitting on the bed, he paused. “Honey, it’s so late. Why aren’t you asleep?” His voice was as gentle as always. I looked up, our eyes meeting. In that instant, The tears I couldn’t control spilled over. It was as if my emotions had finally found an outlet. Seeing me cry, Mark immediately panicked. He hurried over, his eyes full of concern. “Honey, why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare? You shouldn’t cry while you’re recovering; it’s bad for your health.” His touch was so gentle. If I hadn’t seen those chat logs with my own eyes, I would have believed his concern was genuine. It turns out, love can really be acted out to perfection. I stared at him with red-rimmed eyes, my voice trembling slightly. “Mark… I just dreamed that you were cheating on me.” Mark froze for a second, then let out a soft chuckle, pulling me into his arms. “Silly girl, dreams are the opposite of reality. You’d be better off dreaming that I died.” I clenched my fists, my nails almost digging into my flesh, but I pretended to joke. “Mark, I’m fat and ugly now. Do you still love me?” Mark let go of me, cradled my face in his hands, and looked at me with deep affection. Then, he lowered his head and planted a reverent kiss on my forehead. “My wife will always be the most beautiful woman in the world. Besides, I chased you for ten years. How could I ever stop loving you?” Right. Mark chased me for ten years. He would probably give me one of his kidneys if I needed it. I honestly used to believe that pigs would fly before Mark would cheat on me. However, the truth was cruel. Those chat logs were like needles. Stabbing deeply into my heart. Leaving me bleeding and raw. I looked into his eyes and spoke, word by word. “Mark, if you really are cheating on me, would you just go die?” A flicker of unease crossed his face. But he quickly regained his composure. “I would rather die than cheat on you.” I finally smiled. Mark. You said it yourself. Someone who betrays true love deserves to die. Mark smiled too. He reached out and ruffled my hair, his tone light. “That’s better. My wife looks prettiest when she smiles.” 06 Mark brought me a mug of warm milk. “Here, honey. Drink some milk, it’ll help you sleep.” As I took the mug and took a small sip, I lowered the cup and frowned. “Mark, the baby sounds like he’s crying. Can you go check on him?” Mark didn’t suspect a thing and walked out of the room. I quickly dumped the milk down the sink. Watching the white liquid swirl down the drain, I sneered inwardly. So, this is why I was able to sleep through the night. When Mark returned, his eyes swept over the empty mug. A strange glint of excitement flashed in his eyes. He walked over, patted me gently on the shoulder, and spoke softly. “Honey, the baby is sleeping soundly. Don’t worry.” I nodded, pretending to be drowsy, and faked a yawn. “That’s good. I’m tired too. Let’s sleep.” He smiled, reached over, and turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into darkness. I closed my eyes, my breathing steady, as if I had fallen into a deep sleep. In the middle of the night… Mark gently patted my cheek, calling my name softly to test the waters: “Honey? Honey?” I kept my eyes shut, pretending to be fast asleep. And let out a soft snore. Mark paused for a long moment. He seemed to be confirming that I was truly asleep. Only then did he quietly slip out of bed, his movements careful, terrified of waking me. After I was sure he had left, I opened my eyes and checked the time. 1:00 AM. Mark was really dedicated; it was this late, and he was still going out to meet his mistress. I grabbed my phone, quietly got up, and followed him. Almost there. I would soon have the evidence I needed. To my surprise… Mark didn’t leave the apartment. Instead, he turned and walked into the guest room. The guest room was the baby’s room. My heart pounded. Did my probing earlier make Mark change his plans? The next second… I realized that Mark was far more disgusting than I could have ever imagined. 07 “I thought you weren’t coming tonight. You’re so bold. Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out?” A woman’s voice came from the guest room. My heart violently contracted. It was hard to breathe. This… This was the voice of our night nanny, Chloe. Chloe was the night nanny Mark had chosen for me. She usually wore simple clothes, tied her hair back in a messy, low ponytail, and rarely wore any makeup. Even though we were about the same age. But she was very professional and knew her boundaries. Except for taking care of me and the baby, she mostly stayed in her room, minimizing her contact with Mark. So, I had never even suspected her. The sound of rustling clothes brought me back to reality. Mark’s voice was full of impatience, like a starving animal. “She sleeps like the dead. Chloe, let me touch you, I’m dying here.” Chloe’s tone was slightly anxious. “I think I heard her ask you what would happen if you cheated? Is she getting suspicious?” But Mark didn’t care at all. His tone was absolutely certain, as if he had everything under control. “Relax, she trusts me completely. I crawl into your bed every night, and she just feels bad that I’m ‘working late’.” “You’re so bad…” Chloe’s voice softened into a moan. “Isn’t that what you like about me?” … Their conversation was like a dull knife. Slicing into my heart over and over again. It hurt so much! How dare they do this in my home! Right next to my child! Doing something so vile! I wanted to burst in there and stab them both to death! But reason told me I couldn’t be impulsive. 08 “Do we really have to try that today? I’m scared…” “Relax, I brought the lube. It won’t hurt.” “But…” Chloe’s voice was still hesitant. Mark suddenly grew annoyed. “I didn’t mind that you’ve slept with so many other guys, and you can’t even do this one little thing for me? If you can’t handle it, I’ll find someone who can.” “No… I can.” Chloe caved. She twisted her body, trying to please him. “Good girl. Relax, I’ll put it on for you.” Mark sounded eager. Chloe obediently lay down. Mark squeezed the entire bottle of “lubricant” inside her. “It hurts!” Chloe cried out in pain. “Bear with it. This is the intense stimulation kind. It’s supposed to hurt a little. Chloe, here I come!” Mark looked excited. He pressed down on her. Suddenly… A piercing scream shattered the silence of the room. “Ah! Mark, what the hell did you put on me?! Why is it sticking together?!” Chloe frantically twisted her body, trying desperately to break free. But it was too late. The Super Glue had already taken effect. Mark was panicking too, covering Chloe’s mouth with his hand. “Keep your voice down! Do you want everyone to know? I’m stuck too!” “Mmph! Mmph! Do something!” Chloe’s voice was already breaking into sobs. “I’m trying… let’s try hot water?” “Ah! That’s burning hot!” “…” They tried for half an hour. Eventually, they had no choice but to call an ambulance. The two of them, stuck together in a grotesque position, were carried out on a stretcher. I stood on the balcony, watching the ambulance disappear into the distance. Only then did I go back into the guest room. My baby was sleeping soundly in his crib. Completely unaware of what had just happened. I gently stroked his little face, making a silent vow. Don’t worry, sweetie. Mommy will protect you. Then, my gaze fell on the empty pink bottle on the bed. Perfect. They used every last drop. 09 Mark and Chloe didn’t return until the next evening. One was walking with his legs clamped tightly together. The other was clenching her buttocks. The two of them hobbled in, one after the other. Their postures were incredibly awkward. I had to dig my nails into my palms to keep from laughing out loud. “Where have you two been? I haven’t seen either of you all day.” I asked with feigned concern, my gaze darting between them. An unnatural look flashed across Mark’s face, and he avoided my eyes. “Something came up at work; I was busy all day. I happened to run into Chloe downstairs, so we came up together.” His voice was shaky and entirely unconvincing. I turned my head and looked at Chloe. “Chloe, why didn’t you at least tell me you were going to be gone all day? I thought something terrible had happened to you.” Chloe was frighteningly pale, her lips trembling slightly. She clearly hadn’t come up with a good excuse yet. She could only stammer, “Mrs. Miller… I…” Seeing this, Mark quickly jumped in to defend her: “Chloe had a family emergency. She asked me for time off, but I got so busy I forgot to tell you.” Chloe nodded frantically, terrified I would keep asking questions. “Mrs. Miller, I’ll go check on the baby now.” I waved my hand dismissively, my tone light. “No need. My parents said they missed him, so they took him for a few days. You can take it easy for a bit.” Chloe froze for a second, then finally muttered: “Then I’ll go make dinner for you.” I nodded, my tone flat: “Go ahead.” She stole a glance at Mark, her eyes full of grievance. But Mark was too busy trying to deal with his own situation to care about her. Chloe had no choice but to look away and slowly hobble into the kitchen, her buttocks clenched tight. Her figure looked incredibly pathetic. Every step seemed to be excruciatingly painful. Honestly. Even I felt bad for her. A servant by day, a plaything by night. And now she had to cook for me while suffering a “workplace injury.” It was tragic. The clatter of pots and pans echoed from the kitchen. Chloe’s movements were clearly much slower than usual.

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During the year of our purest hatred, our families had a joint dinner. My childhood frenemy sneaked into the kitchen behind everyone’s back and cooked a pot of wild mushroom soup, purely to poison me so I’d lose my voice. But my mom enthusiastically served him a bowl too, and we both ended up in the ICU. The exact second we regained our strength, we went into combat mode. The hospital room door pushed open, and a cute little cupcake of a girl wearing a princess dress walked in. “Daddy, why are you calling Mommy a pig?” “Mommy, why did you tell Daddy to go die?” “What does ‘may your future son be born without an asshole’ mean? I’m a girl.” 1 The very first second I opened my eyes, I turned my head to look at Mason, who was waking up at the exact same time. “Idiot. How did that not kill you?” Mason hadn’t even fully opened his eyes before he instinctively snapped back. “If you’re so smart, how come you drank as much as a pig and can still talk?” My chest heaved violently with anger. I stared at the IV drip ticking away beside me. “This is attempted murder! Mason, you son of a bitch, you intentionally tried to kill me! I curse your future son to be born without an asshole!” Mason’s face went pale. He let out a weak cough. “Tyler gave me those mushrooms. He said they’d just mess up your vocal cords for a while. You’re so loud every day, you give me a migraine.” “It’s not like it wouldn’t heal. Damn Tyler, this mushroom soup is completely useless. How can you still yell at me?” “You drank it yourself! What are you barking at?” Seeing his genuinely regretful expression, I forced my arm out to grab the vase next to me, fully intending to smash this moron to death. The moment the vase shattered, the door opened. We both looked toward the door simultaneously. A little girl with her hair in space buns timidly poked her head into the room. “Mommy…” The second our eyes met, the little girl’s eyes suddenly welled up with tears. I sat up, feeling weak, and gave a dry chuckle. “Hey kiddo, you got the wrong room.” Mason gloated. “Riley, you had a kid this big at 18?” I glared at him. What kind of garbage is he spewing in front of a kid? But the little girl didn’t leave. Instead, she walked all the way in. She was wearing a fluffy pink and white tutu, her eyes blurry with tears. “Daddy, why are you calling Mommy a pig?” “Mommy, why did you tell Daddy to go die?” “What does ‘may your future son be born without an asshole’ mean? I’m a girl.” I calmly turned my head to look at Mason. “Where did you hire this child actor? This prank is actually kind of creative.” Mason’s pranks usually consisted of putting disgusting things in my bed, my shoes, or my clothes. Plus, this idiot always couldn’t help but stare when he pulled a prank, so it was always obvious it was him. I really didn’t expect a prank this advanced could come out of his pig-brain. Mason looked completely bewildered. “Little brat, what are you babbling about? Who’s your daddy? I’m only 18, I’m still a pure, innocent virgin boy…” Before he could finish, the little girl burst into loud sobs, opening her arms and throwing herself into my embrace. “Daddy is so mean…” I was completely numb. I instinctively raised my arms to hold her. Her crying was so loud that someone rushed into the room in a panic. “Mom…” I called out dryly, awkwardly trying to push the crying child in my arms away. “Whose kid is this running around?” My mom had clearly marched in ready to breathe fire, but hearing my words, she froze completely. “That’s your kid!” Before I could even open my mouth, Mason let out a screech that sounded like a dying donkey. “Mrs. Miller, you must be mistaken! This kid looks at least three or four. What kind of monster would do something like that to Riley at our age?!” 2 The air went dead silent. My mom slowly turned her head. “What did you just call me?” Mason swallowed hard. “M-Mrs. Miller… you’re scaring me a little right now.” My mom looked at me in horror, then looked at Mason. Her resulting scream nearly blew the roof off the hospital. After a chaotic flurry of doctors and nurses, the attending physician pushed his glasses up his nose. “It’s possible that the toxins in the mushrooms did affect some neural pathways. These two… currently believe they are still 18.” After hearing the whole explanation, my face was full of disbelief. “So you’re saying, not only have I already graduated from college, but I’m married and have a kid this big?” Mason shook his head like a rattle drum. “Don’t believe it.” My mom stayed silent for two seconds. She pulled up the security camera footage on her phone and shoved it into my hands. Mason ripped out his IV tube and crawled onto my hospital bed to watch the footage with me. In the video, I was in the kitchen wearing a pink apron, cooking something. Mason had the little girl in one arm and wrapped his other arm around my waist. “Babe, it’s our five-year anniversary, we should just go out to eat. Why do you insist on cooking yourself?” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. “I just wanted to be a good, traditional wife for once.” He affectionately patted my butt. I leaned into his chest all lovey-dovey, and the little girl hugged my head, giggling. I picked up a spoon and brought it to Mason’s mouth. “Hubby, try this. Is it too salty?” Mason very obligingly took a big gulp, then leaned in to kiss me. “Wifey, this is your first time making wild mushroom stew and it’s this good. I’m so lucky…” Then, his arm went slack, and the little girl thudded onto the floor. As Mason and I were kissing, we both tipped backward and fell straight down like chopped trees. Our little cupcake landed on her butt. She was just about to cry when she realized her dad’s massive body was falling toward her, so she quickly scrambled out of the way, sticking her butt in the air. Mason’s head smacked solidly against the floor. The toddler cried and called for Mommy and Daddy, but got no response. She stood up, trotted to the living room, and pulled out her little Gizmo Watch. “Grandma, waaaah, Mommy and Daddy kissed each other to death, waaaah…” The security footage abruptly ended. The entire hospital room plunged into a deathly silence. I looked at Mason, whose arm was still half-wrapped around my waist on the bed. I screamed and kicked him off the bed. Mason’s head had already taken a hard hit in the video, and now he hit the floor again. He lay there for a long time without getting up. I looked like I’d seen a ghost, pointing a trembling finger at the security footage. “Mom, you’re messing with me, right? That’s an AI deepfake!” Our little cupcake was terrified by my screaming. She hugged my arm and cried non-stop. “Mommy, you can’t hit Daddy, waaaah.” My mom gritted her teeth and glared at me. “Stop scaring the child!” Honestly, that was the most terrifying horror movie I’d seen all year. How could I possibly be married to Mason?! Mason and I grew up together, but you couldn’t call us childhood sweethearts. Everyone called us the Twin Terrors of the neighborhood. We fought from the time we were toddlers. I replaced the lemonade his mom made him with hot sauce water; he cut off my hair to make a hacky sack. At 18, the year of our purest hatred, I stuffed a dead mouse in Mason’s bed, and he put cockroaches in my shoes. During a joint family dinner, he secretly sneaked into the kitchen and made poisonous mushroom soup just to ruin my vocal cords. I only found out the damn soup was made by Mason after I collapsed on the floor. But he didn’t expect my mom to drink the soup too. So Mason snatched my mom’s bowl and downed it in one gulp. That’s how we both ended up in the ICU. But when we open our eyes, we’re actually married? And we have a four-year-old daughter! Mason clearly didn’t believe it either. He scrambled up from the floor. “How could I ever marry Riley? I’d rather eat dirt!” I slapped him across the face. “You were just kissing me in that video! If you ate dirt, wouldn’t there be dirt in my mouth too?!” My mom looked like her head was about to explode. My daughter’s soft, timid voice was thick with tears. “Daddy, Mommy, what’s wrong? Are you going to get a divorce?” Mason and I froze simultaneously. Even though I had no memory of this child’s existence, seeing her nose red from crying made my heart ache. Mason’s heart ached even more than mine. His head was wrapped in bandages, but he stepped forward and scooped the child into his arms, gently patting her back. “Don’t cry, sweetie. Daddy and Mommy are just playing around.” Me: … He got into character really fast. 3 Lily was terrified all day, and finally cried herself to sleep in Mason’s arms. Once the hospital room quieted down, my mom frowned and asked me. “What are you two going to do?” I sighed. I felt like I was going crazy. “Divorce.” There was no way I could live in the same house as Mason. We’d tear the place apart! Before my mom could even speak, Mason panicked. He immediately rejected the idea. “No way!” His voice spiked sharply. Lily let out a sleepy hiccup in his arms, and he quickly lowered his voice. “Riley, you have to take responsibility for your actions! You have to take responsibility for me and our daughter!” My eyes widened. This bastard! Did he even hear what he was saying?! My mom didn’t agree either. “Riley, you and Mason were definitely a handful when you were younger, but you were very much in love after you got married. The doctor also said that once your bodies metabolize the mushroom toxins, you might get your memories back.” Mason, holding the child like a wronged little wife, nodded emphatically. “Exactly. What if we get our memories back? Wouldn’t we just have to get remarried?” I gritted my teeth and glared at him. “You just want to sleep with me, don’t you, you bastard?!” Mason’s face instantly turned beet red, and my mom smacked me on the back of the head. “You brat, your mother is standing right here!” I rubbed my head, puffing my cheeks out as I glared at Mason. He looked down at Lily in his arms. “The child is innocent. Even if it’s just for her sake, let’s just pretend for a while, Riley.” My knuckles cracked as I clenched my fists. Don’t think I didn’t see the smirk this deadbeat couldn’t hide. He didn’t want a divorce; he was definitely plotting something! But my mom said she had already hidden our marriage certificate and our IDs. “You two have been so nauseatingly in love for five years, it makes people sick. I’m afraid you’ll regret it if you divorce now.” She turned to Mason. “You two just need to adapt for a bit and see if you can get your memories back soon. If you really can’t live together anymore, at least don’t fight in front of the kid.” I took a deep breath. My mom turned and vanished before I could argue. When Mason and I were discharged and went home, I opened my phone. Seeing that Mason and I had matching couples’ profile pictures made me physically nauseous. Our entire chat history was voice messages. I clicked on a random one. From the screen, Mason’s voice let out a disgusting, cutesy pig snort. “Wifey, wifey, I’m getting off work soon! Do you want me to bring my little baby something to eat~” I almost threw my phone across the room. Mason’s face was red all the way to the tips of his ears. “Why are you only clicking on my messages? Yours are probably way more disgusting!” I stiffened my neck. “Impossible! I’m an iron-willed woman…” He reached out and tapped on my reply. “Hubby, mwah! Little baby says she wants to eat durian, but I want to eat my hubby…” Mason covered Lily’s ears, looking at me in absolute horror. I shoved my phone into my purse, practically grinding my teeth to dust. I’m throwing this phone in the washing machine the second I get home! I’ll wash it eight hundred times!!!!! It’s contaminated! 4 I followed the address my mom gave me and arrived at Mason and my house. Our daughter held my hand on the left and Mason’s hand on the right. It was a beautiful suburban house. From the flowers on the fence and the green lawn in the yard, you could tell it was a very happy home. When I opened the door, I was almost blinded. Who can tell me! Why is there a massive! MASSIVE! MASSIVE wedding photo hanging right facing the front door?! Personally, I thought it completely clashed with the entire aesthetic of the house. Mason frowned too. “Who came up with such a garbage design?” I shot him a look of disgust. “Definitely you.” Lily gently swung our hands. “It was Mommy’s idea, and Daddy hung it up the very next day! Daddy even said Mommy is the smartest baby…” Mason and I both fell silent. If the other person had done something this tacky, we would have ruthlessly mocked them. But it was a joint effort. It was truly an unprecedented masterpiece of bad taste! Lily skipped off to get the photo albums. She had already called Grandma, and Grandma said looking at photos together might help Mommy and Daddy get their memories back. I watched the little girl run off. “I’m making this clear right now. Don’t come into my room tonight.” Mason clicked his tongue. “That’s my room too!” “Besides, if we sleep in separate rooms, the kid is definitely gonna think we’re getting a divorce. We can’t.” My eyes went wide. “You really do want to sleep with me!” Mason’s face flushed red again, and he gritted his teeth. “Riley! Can you watch what you say? What if the kid hears you?” “We can sleep in the same room, but separate beds. You sleep on the floor.” I raised my foot to kick him. “Are you even a man? Why aren’t you volunteering to sleep on the floor?” Mason didn’t back down an inch. “You were just talking about gender equality the day before yesterday! And look at my neck, look what you did to it! Are you even a woman?” I gritted my teeth. “Then let’s fight! Winner gets the bed!” Mason looked utterly dismissive. “If our daughter wasn’t here today, I would’ve pinned you to the ground a long time ago! You actually think you can take me in a fight?” Actions speak louder than words! The two of us immediately started brawling like two aggressive roosters. I threw a left hook, Mason countered with a judo throw, and we both tumbled onto the couch. I brought my knee up hard, and Mason sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. He curled up on the couch, shivering in pain, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, his teeth chattering. I jumped in fright. I had been straddling him, fully intending to slap his face silly, but now I was completely paralyzed. “Mason, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” He forced a sentence out between his teeth. “Riley, you’re trying to murder your own husband… We’re really only ever gonna have Lily as our only child…” I instantly realized what I had just kneed, drawing in a sharp breath. “No way, really? Is it really that fragile?” Mason ignored me, which made me panic even more. I reached out my hand toward his crotch. “Mason, stop scaring me, let’s go to the hospital!” Mason’s voice was hoarse. He swatted my hand away. “And say what? Say we got into a fight and you kicked my balls into pieces?” My face instantly exploded into a fiery red. “Can you watch what you say? That sounds horrible!” “Is what you did any less horrible?” His forehead was covered in cold sweat. After a long silence, I sniffled. “So what do we do?” He struggled to grab his phone from nearby. “Take a look for me. Is it bleeding? Is it broken?” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. “Are you insane?! You want me to look there?” Mason looked utterly defeated by life. “Then just let me die. Let me die of the pain.” I gritted my teeth. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” Mason didn’t even have the strength to sit up. He tossed the phone to the side. “You vicious woman. You will be the sinner of our family line.” I really couldn’t stand his whining, so I got up, grabbed the phone, and turned on the flashlight. Fine, whatever. Even though I currently only had the memories of an 18-year-old, Mason and I had genuinely created a child together. I’ve probably seen everything there is to see anyway. I took the phone and slowly knelt down. I knelt between his legs. Gently pulling down his underwear… The door was suddenly pushed open. My mom’s voice carried a hint of panic. “You guys stopped fighting, did one of you kill the other?” The air went completely dead. I stiffly turned my head. Mason and my position was, frankly, far from elegant. He lay weakly on the bed with his legs spread, and I was kneeling between them with a flashlight, my entire head hovering over his… I let out a shriek and frantically grabbed the nearby blanket to cover Mason’s body. My mom really was a woman who had seen the world. She was silent for three seconds, then silently turned and left. As she left, I distinctly heard her muttering, “Youth is so uninhibited. I thought you two wanted to kill each other, but it turns out…” Mason’s voice carried a hint of a laugh. Between grimacing in pain and laughing, he was practically convulsing. “Our image in your mom’s eyes is completely destroyed.” “Shut up!” I kicked his shin hard. In the end, seeing that I was genuinely furious, Mason went to make a bed on the floor. 5 Early the next morning, my mom knocked on our bedroom door. “You guys promised Lily you’d take her to the amusement park this Tuesday. The kid has been looking forward to it since last night. As parents, you can’t break a promise.” I sighed. “Being a mom is so hard. Can I just stuff her back in?” Mason, who was getting dressed, glared at me fiercely. “Don’t say things like that in front of the kid!” He really was a good dad. I couldn’t understand Mason’s enthusiasm at all. In the past, Mason’s morning crankiness was terrifying. You could even say that aside from me, no one dared to wake him up. And it wasn’t that he wouldn’t get mad if I woke him up; it was just that I was the only one who could fight him to a draw. Mason frowned at my outfit. “We’re going to an amusement park today, not walking the red carpet. Why are you wearing heels?” I glared at him. “Mind your own business!” The truth was, the 18-year-old Riley never had the chance to wear high heels. Seeing a whole closet full of them, I was itching to try, so I picked the prettiest pair. Our daughter held my hand in one hand and Mason’s in the other. “Did Daddy and Mommy sleep well last night?” Thinking of the chaotic events of last night, I turned to look at Mason. “Are your balls okay?” Mason raised a hand to cover my mouth. “Can you please watch what you say in front of our daughter?!” But he was overthinking it, because our daughter didn’t understand at all. “Daddy, what balls?” Mason took a deep breath. “Kinder Joy surprise eggs! Daddy will buy you one later!” I couldn’t hold it in anymore and stood to the side, laughing until tears came to my eyes. I hadn’t been to an amusement park since elementary school. Our daughter pointed at the rollercoaster, screaming in excitement. “Daddy, Mommy, I want to ride that!” I snapped my head around to look at Mason, and sure enough, the man’s face had gone ghostly pale. If there was one thing I knew Mason was terrified of in his first eighteen years, it was heights. When we were kids, Mason’s mom was away for a while, so he came to play at my grandparents’ house with me. My older cousin suggested we play hide-and-seek. I was the seeker, and he took Mason to hide. But I searched until noon and couldn’t find them. My mom called me in for lunch, and my cousin skipped in happily. It wasn’t until it was almost dark that I suddenly remembered Mason was missing. My cousin’s eyes widened in horror. “I put him up in the branches of a tree!” My cousin, the genius, in order to win the game, had hung Mason up in a tree while he sat in another one. And then he just forgot about him. By the time we got Mason down, his legs were shaking for over an hour. With a hint of sadistic glee, I kept my mouth shut. Lily didn’t notice her dad was about to pass out from fear. “Mommy, let’s go ride that, okay?” I smiled brightly. “Okay!” “Daddy, can we?” She turned to look at Mason. I thought Mason wouldn’t agree, that he’d make an excuse about not feeling well, or just tell our daughter straight up that he was scared of heights. But to my surprise, after a long pause, I heard Mason’s voice sounding like a martyr heading to the execution grounds: “Okay!” My heart gave a sharp jolt, and I looked at him in surprise. I had never seen this self-sacrificing side of Mason before. We paid the entrance fee and slowly moved forward with the crowd. The closer we got, the more violently Mason’s legs shook. I was holding back my laughter so hard I thought I might rupture an organ. Finally, right before it was our turn, I suddenly clutched my stomach. “Baby, Mommy’s tummy hurts a little. Can we ride this another day? Let’s go ride the Ferris wheel.” I pointed to the Ferris wheel not too far away. Our daughter had glanced at it several times while we were in line. Sure enough, little kids don’t overthink things. She nodded excitedly immediately. “Okay! Mommy, go to the bathroom first.” Mason turned his head, looked at me deeply, and mouthed two words silently. “My hero!” The corner of my mouth twitched. This idiot deserved to be single, calling his own wife “my hero.” I should have just made him get on the ride. 6 Little kids just have too much energy. Our old, twenty-something bodies simply couldn’t handle the wear and tear. Especially since I was wearing 4-inch stilettos. To avoid being a buzzkill mom, I gritted my teeth and pushed through. When I came out of the restroom, I saw Mason holding our daughter, sitting quietly on a bench waiting. Lily was holding a giant Kinder Joy egg. I found it a bit funny. He actually kept his promise. The next second, he stood up, walked toward me, and shoved a giant… pair of plush slippers into my hands? I threw them away. “Are you crazy?! Giving me plush slippers in this heat?” Mason gave me a sideways glance. “What plush slippers? They’re cartoon slippers. Donald Duck. What kind of amusement park sells regular slippers? It’s merchandise!” “I am not wearing those!” He forcefully pushed me down onto the bench. “Stubborn! Fine, suffer the pain! You’re an idiot!” He helped me put the slipper on my left foot, and I kicked it off with my right. He put it on my right foot, and I kicked it off with my left. “Who wears such stupid slippers to an amusement park?!” A soft touch came from my other foot, and I looked down. I saw our daughter mimicking her dad, kneeling on one knee, helping me put on the other slipper. Father and daughter, each holding one of my feet. Lily tilted her head, her eyes sparkling. “Mommy, Daddy and I are helping you put them on together, so it’s not stupid!” Mason froze. Our daughter stood up. “I want to wear slippers like Mommy’s too! If our whole family wears them, it won’t be stupid! It’ll be so cute!” A warm feeling flowed through my heart, and I resignedly slipped my feet in. “You don’t need to…” But before I could finish my sentence, I saw Mason had already taken Lily’s hand and was walking back toward the gift shop. “Mason, don’t we look really stupid doing this?” The three of us walked along in giant plush slippers, receiving stares from a crowd of people. My cheeks felt hot, but I didn’t feel ashamed. Mason shrugged casually. “So what? They’re probably jealous.” “Jealous of what?” I looked at him sideways. “You have such a handsome husband and such a cute daughter. Who wouldn’t be jealous?” The corner of my mouth twitched. Narcissist.

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During the earthquake, both my brother and my childhood sweetheart gave up on me. They chose to save the “biological” daughter first. Because of that choice, my right leg was crushed under the weight of the debris. As they carried me out of the ruins, I heard my fiancé give my brother a calm, cold command: “I’m planning to break off the engagement. I need to keep my distance. She’s your sister—you take care of her.” “Like hell she is,” my brother muttered, his voice dripping with reluctance. “My real sister is back now. Why is this outsider still hanging around our house, anyway?” They turned around then, quite by accident. When their eyes met mine, the air grew thick with an awkwardness they couldn’t name. 01 The paramedic carrying my stretcher froze. He looked down at me, his brow furrowed. “I thought you said these were your family and friends?” “Why is he calling you an outsider?” “Who am I supposed to hand you over to?” The two men, who had been tossing me back and forth like a burden seconds ago, went silent. They turned in unison, their eyes locking onto mine. I saw a flicker of unease in their depths. They clearly hadn’t expected me to be right behind them, hearing every word. I tried to speak, but the pain surged, and I blacked out before I could make a sound. 02 I was woken up by the muffled sound of voices outside my hospital room. “That poor girl. Her leg is shattered, and she’s been here since the surgery without a single visitor.” “Well, honestly, it’s her own fault. I heard she was switched at birth. The real daughter is back now, yet she hasn’t made any move to leave. She’s practically asking to be treated like an outcast.” “I guess you’re right…” I stared blankly at the heavy cast on my right leg. Strangely, it didn’t hurt as much as it had that day. When I was trapped under the rubble and heard my brother Leo’s voice, I really thought I was going to be saved. “Don’t waste time,” he had told the rescuers. “Save my sister first.” “She has severe claustrophobia. If she’s in there any longer, something will happen to her. I’m holding you responsible.” The sister with claustrophobia was Maya—the biological daughter. The rescuer’s voice had been heavy with warning. “The family needs to be prepared. The woman trapped on the other side… there’s a high probability the collapsing wall will crush her legs if we wait.” Leo paused. His voice dropped. “I… I understand.” “But if I can only save one, what choice do I have?” A sliver of light had filtered through the cracks, hitting my leg where it was pinned between the jagged stones. In that moment, when the pain took my voice, my resentment toward Leo reached its peak. But now? I couldn’t even summon the energy to be angry. Looking at it objectively, Leo wasn’t “wrong.” It was only natural to choose his blood relative. Leo was right. I should leave. Nothing is more pathetic than staying where you aren’t wanted. 03 When Leo and the others finally came to see me, I was struggling to reach a heated pack on my nightstand. The IV fluids had left my hands ice-cold. Maya was at the front of the group. She skipped over to my bedside, looking bright and energetic. “Claire, is your leg really broken?” She stared at the cast with wide eyes, then let out a breath of relief, as if she had been the one to dodge a bullet. “I can’t even imagine if that were me. I’d be crying every single day.” “I’m so lucky… so lucky…” A sudden wave of exhaustion washed over me. I didn’t care enough to figure out how much of her “relief” was actually malice. Leo stood the furthest away, his eyes constantly avoiding mine. He was clearly still reeling from the embarrassment of the other day. He wasn’t like Asher, my fiancé. Asher’s expression was as cold as ever. He glanced at my injured leg, his brow twitching almost imperceptibly. He didn’t speak for a long time. “Once you’re recovered,” he finally said, “we need to talk.” I blinked. I remembered what he said at the ruins. He wanted to break off the engagement. Those were the words he was hesitating to say out loud. Maya turned to look at him, her eyes trembling. “Are you having second thoughts?” Asher pressed his lips together. “Do you think I should hurt her a second time while she’s in this condition?” Maya looked down. A few seconds later, she whispered: “That’s not what I meant.” “I’m a little tired. I’m going home. You two should stay and look after Claire.” “It’s hard for her to do anything on her own.” She finished her sentence in a small voice and ran out of the room. The faint sound of a sob lingered in the air. Leo glared at Asher like a protective wolf pup. “Asher.” “How dare you make my sister cry?” Asher’s gaze followed Maya out the door, ignoring the warning. He simply dropped a heavy “Stay here and take care of her” before chasing after Maya. “Wait, what?” Leo stammered. He looked back at me, his body stiff, then scrambled after them. “Wait!” “I don’t know how to take care of anyone!” “Don’t leave me here alone with her!” His footsteps were so fast it was as if he were outrunning a plague. The hospital door remained half-open, swinging back and forth in the wind from the window. In an instant, the room was empty again. From beginning to end, no one had given me a chance to speak. I wanted to tell them I agreed to the breakup. I wanted to tell them I didn’t need anyone to “stay” and look after me. In the week I’d been hospitalized, I had already learned how to take care of myself perfectly well. 04 No one came to see me again until the day I was discharged. The only contact I had was a phone call from my adoptive mother, Mrs. Sterling, right after my cast was removed. She sighed, her voice soft and persuasive. “Claire, don’t blame Leo for choosing Maya. She’s his biological sister, after all, right? I hope this doesn’t create a rift between you two.” “I don’t blame him, Mom. He didn’t do anything wrong.” “I knew you were the sensible one. Your father and I will pick you up when you’re discharged. We’re on a business trip right now, so we don’t have time to visit, but please take care of yourself.” As soon as she finished, Leo’s voice rang out in the background. “Mom! Who are you talking to? Hurry up!” “Let’s take a family photo before that person gets back.” The silence on the line was so heavy I could hear the static of the connection. I spoke as if I hadn’t heard a thing. “I understand, Mom. I’ll take care of myself.” I heard a distinct sigh of relief from the other end. “Oh, good…” “I have to go. I have a meeting starting.” The phone was hung up in a rush. It was late at night. I put my phone away and gripped the handrail, beginning another round of physical therapy. In the silent hospital corridor, I was the only one dragging a withered leg, moving forward one tiny, agonizing step at a time. Half an hour later, drenched in sweat, I let out a small smile. I walked two meters further than yesterday. 05 No one came to pick me up the day I left the hospital. Luckily, I wasn’t waiting for anyone anymore. As soon as I walked through the front door with my suitcase, I realized my timing was terrible. The four Sterlings and Asher were having a celebratory steak dinner. My appearance shattered the warm, happy atmosphere. Every face held a different expression, but none of them were positive. The only sound in the room was the sizzle of the grill. Mrs. Sterling recovered first, forcing a smile. “Claire… you’re back. You should have called…” “You haven’t eaten, have you? Come, sit down and join us.” The air was thick with the smell of heavy seasoning. My wound seemed to throb in sympathy. I didn’t feel the need to act out my grievances like I used to. I didn’t point out that no one actually cared, or that no one remembered I was supposed to avoid heavy spices while healing. I didn’t want to be the one to ruin their night. I just said: “No thanks, Mom. I ate before I came.” “I’m going to my room to pack.” … Later that evening, in my adoptive father’s study. He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the mahogany desk. “You’re leaving?” I nodded. “I have a flight booked for next week.” “Please don’t tell Mom and the others yet.” I chose to tell Mr. Sterling because he was the most distant person in the house. He wouldn’t be swayed by sentimentality, and he wouldn’t offer any hollow words of “staying” to make things difficult. He didn’t try to stop me. “It’s for the best.” “You can see for yourself. This family has become unrecognizable because of your presence.” “Once you leave, don’t contact your mother or the others. Let’s have a clean break.” I promised him I would never appear before them again. He looked at me with surprise for a few seconds, but said nothing. 06 The suffocating weight in my chest suddenly vanished. I felt an incredible sense of lightness. I walked out of the villa, just wanting to breathe in the night air. A familiar roar sounded not far away. “Asher, you motherf***er, you ditched me again!” “You take Maya out on a date and leave me alone to face her? Are you even human?” “I’m so done… why did she even come back? Doesn’t she know how awkward she makes everyone feel?” Leo hung up the phone with a violent gesture. He turned around and ran straight into my gaze. His furious expression shifted instantly into something unreadable. As we stood there in a deadlock, a car began speeding toward the curb. Leo was standing right on the edge of the road, oblivious. Years of habit kicked in. I stepped forward instinctively and yanked him back. The car honked twice and sped past. I exhaled, feeling no desire to speak to him. I let go of his arm and turned to walk away. Leo hesitated for two seconds, then followed me. “Uh, Claire… thanks…” I nodded slightly but didn’t say a word. Leo stammered for a while, then suddenly grabbed my hand. “I’m sorry…” he blurted out, sounding defeated. “I shouldn’t have said those things about wanting you gone. You know how I am. I say things I don’t mean. I never actually wanted you to leave…” I tilted my head, looking at the boy whose face still held a trace of childhood innocence. “I know.” “So… are we good?” Leo was still being awkward, his ears turning red. I pulled my wrist away. I didn’t answer his question. Instead, I said: “Can you let go? Holding my hand like this makes me uncomfortable.” Leo froze and let go. His shocked expression was tinged with a hint of hurt. Ever since we were kids, that was how he had always held my hand. I didn’t know when it happened, but I was no longer comfortable with his proximity. 07 Just as I was about to leave, a convertible Aston Martin pulled up in front of us. Maya was in the passenger seat, her eyes darting between me and Leo. She spoke to Leo. “Leo, how old are you? Still following us around?” “Get in.” “This is the last time, though.” “Next time, we’re really leaving you behind.” Leo didn’t move. He frowned. “Maya, wipe your mouth first.” Following his gaze, I noticed the smudged lipstick on Maya’s lips. Asher, sitting beside her, had a faint trace on the corner of his mouth as well. Maya’s ears turned red. She looked into the rearview mirror, reapplying her lipstick while complaining: “I told you not to kiss me so hard.” “How embarrassing.” I looked at Asher and unexpectedly caught his eye. The next second, he looked away. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, asking Leo impatiently: “Are you coming or not?” Leo didn’t snap back like he usually did. He grabbed my hand again and said in a low voice: “You guys go ahead.” “I don’t want to intrude. I’m going home with Claire.” Before I could react, he was already leading me away. Maya suddenly called out to me. “Wait, Claire. Asher has something to tell you.” She poked Asher’s shoulder affectionately, a bright smile on her face. “Now that she’s out of the hospital.” “You can say it.” I looked at Asher quietly, waiting for him to bring up the breakup. The man kept his eyes lowered. It was a long time before he spoke. “How is your physical therapy going?” Maya’s smile froze on her lips. I paused. “It’s going well.” Asher gave a short nod, shifted into gear, and drove away. He still hadn’t mentioned it. Inappropriately, I remembered a nurse telling me during my hospital stay that a very tall, handsome man had come to watch me sleep twice. Belatedly, I realized it must have been Asher. 08 Asher kept delaying it. But at dinner the next night, Mrs. Sterling brought it up. Asher was sitting next to Maya. He looked up sharply, clearly caught off guard. Mrs. Sterling looked at me persuasively. “This marriage was always meant for Maya.” “Be a good girl and give it back to her. I’ll find someone else for you.” I picked up a piece of greens and put it in my bowl. “Okay, Mom. Whatever you want.” My indifference caught everyone at the table by surprise. It was as if they hadn’t expected me to agree so easily. Mrs. Sterling’s expression softened. She smiled. “You’ve become so much more sensible since you got back.” I lowered my head and ate, saying nothing more. I had simply realized my place. I no longer viewed them as family. I saw myself as an outsider who owed them for my upbringing, and I had placed myself accordingly. I had no reason to be resentful. After dinner, I passed Maya’s room with a glass of water. The door was ajar. She was hugging Mrs. Sterling’s waist, acting spoiled. “Mom, you can’t find a good match for Claire.” “She’s lived a charmed life for twenty-one years on my behalf. She needs to suffer a little.” “She owes me this.” Mrs. Sterling’s hand, stroking the back of Maya’s head, faltered. “Claire is an orphan. She was abandoned at the hospital. It was the nurse’s mistake that you were switched.” “She’s innocent, too…” Maya looked up from her lap. “So I deserve to have suffered all those years?” “I’m not asking her to pay back every cent this family spent on her for twenty years. I’m not even kicking her out.” “I just want her to face a little hardship, to balance the scales. Are you really going to protect her over me?” Her voice broke into a sob at the end. Maya pushed her away and buried her face in the bed, crying harder. Mrs. Sterling rushed to comfort her. “Okay, okay. I promise.” “Mr. Vance’s son is the biggest playboy in the city. I’ll set him up with Claire, okay?” “Don’t cry, sweetheart.” I looked away and didn’t listen to the rest. I went downstairs and put my glass on the counter. The ice had mostly melted. I looked at my hand. My palm was pale and numb from holding the cold glass for too long. I only just noticed.

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For three years, I was Silas Vance’s best-kept secret. His gorgeous, compliant little songbird in a gilded cage. The day I found out I was pregnant, I went to surprise him at his private club. But before I could open the door, I overheard a conversation between him and his identical twin brother, Elias. “Sias, I’ve been posing as you, playing house with your little bird for a while now,” Elias said, his tone casual but dangerous. “If she finds out, she’s going to bolt.” Silas sounded utterly indifferent. “Let her. She knows where her bread is buttered; she won’t leave. Besides, it’s not like this is the first time we’ve swapped.” He paused, his voice turning cold. “Just tell me you didn’t get her pregnant. That would be disgusting.” Right then, a strange text message appeared floating in front of my eyes, like a chat frame from a livestream: 【Lmao, this dumb side-character thinks being pregnant is a good thing. She has no idea Silas hasn’t touched her in a year. Elias is the one who got her knocked up.】 【Silas only has eyes for the main female lead. Even if the side-character is pregnant with his twin’s baby, Silas will make sure she and the kid both vanish.】 I didn’t scream. I didn’t cause a scene. I went back to the penthouse and kept playing the part of Elias’s perfect, oblivious little bird. But behind their backs, I quietly scheduled an abortion. I bought a one-way international plane ticket. The day they caught me at the clinic, ready to end the pregnancy, Elias went absolutely primal. He grabbed Silas by the throat, pinning him against the wall. “Who gave you permission to touch her?” he roared, his eyes insane with rage. 01 The day I found out, it was pouring rain in the city. Ignoring the weather, I rushed to the exclusive downtown lounge where Silas usually hung out. By the time I arrived, my hair was damp, and water was dripping from my coat. Just as I reached for the handle of his private VIP suite, I heard Silas’s voice through the door. It was cold, detached. “You done playing? When are we swapping back?” His twin brother, Elias, laughed. “Not yet. I’m having too much fun.” Silas frowned. “You didn’t actually touch her, did you? You know the rules.” Elias hesitated for a fraction of a second. Then, a slow, dark smirk spread across his face. “Relax. I didn’t. Probably.” He picked up his glass of whiskey. “But honestly, even if I did, why would you care?” Silas paused, looking distinctly uncomfortable. “Obviously I care. It’s filthy.” The private room erupted in whistles and catcalls from their trust-fund friends. “Elias, you crazy bastard. You’re actually willing to sloppy-second your brother’s trash?” “Can you blame him? Look at Ava’s face. Hell, with a body like that, who wouldn’t want a turn?” “Seriously, that ass is intoxicating. She’s practically begging for it.” “It’s just funny that Silas is the one acting like a saint, refusing to touch her.” Sitting next to Silas was Chloe Sterling, the ice queen of the Hamptons and Silas’s childhood sweetheart. He’d worshipped her since they were kids. Chloe let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Honestly, Ava is like a public restroom. Everyone gets a turn.” The room rolled with laughter. I recognized some of the other faces in there. One of them asked, “Whose idea was this switch, anyway? It’s wild.” Chloe lifted an eyebrow, looking smug. “They’re too boring to come up with something this good. It was me.” She looked directly at Silas. “Ava probably dreams about Silas having a secret twin. You should thank me. Without me, none of you would get to experience something this thrilling.” Silas smiled at her, an expression of pure adoration. “You’re right, honey. You’re always the smartest person in the room.” Someone else chimed in. “I heard Silas is actually going through with a wedding to Ava next week. Is that legit?” Silas chuckled, a cruel sound. “Of course not. The little lower-class girl wants a ring. I’m just humoring her for now.” Chloe sat up straighter, a gleam of malice in her eyes. “Imagine this: next week, at the ‘wedding,’ right when she thinks she’s officially made it, you guys tell her the truth. Tell her that for a whole year, you’ve been passing her back and forth.” Chloe smirked, anticipating the moment. “Imagine the look on her face when you push her into the abyss right as she’s hugging happiness. Wouldn’t that be a blast?” Silas gave a helpless laugh, stroking Chloe’s hair. “You’re vicious. So childish.” Chloe pouted. “Vicious or not, you’ve always given me whatever I wanted since we were kids.” Then she paused, glancing at Elias. “Just make sure you’re careful. Don’t go getting her pregnant by accident.” Her voice turned elitist. “Girls from the gutter get real clingy once they have a kid.” Silas’s brow furrowed slightly. “Don’t even joke about that. Like I said, we’ve never touched her.” Chloe tilted her head, pressing the issue. “But what if she is pregnant? Hypothetically?” Silas smiled, looking completely unbothered. “Then we kick her to the curb. Right, Eli?” Elias seemed to be in a daze, staring into his drink. He heard Silas call his name and snapped back to reality. “Yeah. Right.” Floating Text: 【Lmao, Elias is actually lying. He didn’t touch her? He’s been sleeping with her behind his brother’s back for months. He’s totally wrecked her.】 【This side-character thinks she’s pregnant with Silas’s baby, but Silas has never touched her. It’s Elias’s kid.】 【In the end, Silas only wants the main lead. Once they find out about the pregnancy, they’re going to make sure she and the baby disappear completely.】 【Omg, I love this dynamic. Silas is saving himself for the main female lead, and Elias is just using the side-character for practice. This is the quality content I sign up for!】 I looked down at the pregnancy test in my hand. Two bold, red lines. I had run through the rain to get here, desperate to tell Silas the news. I really was pregnant. Looking at it now, there was no point in telling him. None at all. 02 That same afternoon, I booked an appointment at an out-of-state abortion clinic. I also bought a one-way plane ticket for next week. Coincidentally, it was the same day as the “wedding.” I figured I could extract a little more cash from my “sugar daddy” over the next few days for my relocation fund. Since they wanted to humiliate me at the altar and show the world what a fool I was… Then why shouldn’t I pre-empt them? I’d stand them up, run away, and turn their little scripted drama into a complete farce. Besides, over the years I’d spent as a professional gilded bird, I had saved up a decent chunk of change. The rate of my savings had actually doubled recently. I used to wonder why “Silas” always seemed to forget he had already sent me money, depositing cash into my account over and over again. Mystery solved. It wasn’t Silas forgetting. One deposit was from Silas, and the other was from his twin, Elias. I gently patted my little nest egg. Money was my only true comfort. I had first crossed paths with Silas Vance back in college. Chloe Sterling had been my roommate. She loved cruel pranks, specifically ones designed to destroy people’s futures. During our freshman year, she had encouraged one of her rich friends to pursue a quiet, hardworking girl from a poor background. The guy showered her with roses, luxury goods, and expensive bags. The poor girl had never seen that kind of courtship. Within weeks, she was head over heels in love. Right before final exams, Chloe had her friend dump the girl brutally. The shock was too much, and the girl, who usually had great grades, completely failed her finals. As soon as exams were over, she jumped off a building. She’s still in a vegetative state. Chloe, meanwhile, just continued with college, acting like nothing had happened. She was my roommate, and she set her sights on me. I worked three jobs back then just to survive. Between my gambling-addicted father, my mother who died young, and my sick grandmother, I was the classic “beautiful, broken scholarship student.” This time, I was the new main character in her twisted game. Silas Vance was her hand-picked male lead. He was the campus god—a brilliant, stony-faced legacy student whose candid photos went viral on social media, racking up millions of views. He was also the heir apparent to the Vance Group conglomerate. His future was blindingly bright. She tasked Silas with “seducing” me, making me his girlfriend. According to Chloe’s script, Silas would ruin me with luxury. He’d make me dependent on him. And once I was completely accustomed to that high life, he’d dump me, leaving me to utterly collapse under the weight of the massive loss. Silas was indeed good to me. He bought me countless gifts. He pretended to have deep empathy for my tragic backstory. He forbid me from working my three jobs, and he came up with a new surprise for me every day. But I’m a hoarder. A survivor. Whatever money Silas gave me, I hoarded. The jewelry he bought me? I never wore it. I sold it online for a premium to other legacy students. I was terrified of being poor again. I didn’t think I deserved nice things. Money was the only thing that felt real. Hoarding it was the only thing that gave me a sense of security. And I wasn’t stupid. I could feel it. Silas seemed to be acting. Whenever he held my hand, I couldn’t miss the flicker of mockery deep in his eyes. I didn’t know why he hated me but was still pretending to love me. But he was definitely rich, and he was definitely a fool with his money. I needed to hoard as much as possible while the opportunity was there. We acted like a normal couple. Dating, hugging, kissing. During the winter, I even hand-knit him a scarf as a gift. The day my grandmother fell critically ill, I finally broke down. I asked Silas for a “birthday gift”—a massive sum to cover her medical bills. I remember Silas froze for a second. Then he smiled. I hadn’t forgotten the spark of sadistic triumph in his eyes. Like a venomous snake finally baring its fangs. He assumed I had finally been broken, corrupted, and was now just as greedy as everyone else. Everything was going according to plan. Silas broke up with me the very next day. Chloe Sterling waited to watch me crumble. She expected the “poor girl” to fall apart, lose my mind, scream, cry, and make a pathetic scene begging Silas to take me back. But she found me exactly the same as before. I went back to working my jobs, back to classes, back to my mundane routine. Actually, I was a little better off. I dropped from three jobs down to two. Instead of eating plain ramen, I could afford to add a small sausage and an egg. And maybe a nice iced coffee after dinner. I even gained three pounds. I didn’t waste time begging to get back together. I didn’t cry for him. In fact, the day we broke up, I deleted his number and blocked him on everything. None of it went according to her script. Chloe exploded with rage. She thought the game was boring because I wouldn’t break. After that, she made my life in the dorm a living hell. Stomping on my shoes. Putting thumbtacks in them. Pouring cold water on my bed in the middle of winter. Later, my dad got deep into debt with some high-stakes gamblers—debts that the Vance family ended up controlling. To pay off his debts, he effectively sold me to Silas. That’s how I accidentally became Silas’s gilded bird. Actually, I had been starting to think about building a real future with him recently. Silas had always been cold and distant. He had never once touched me over the years. But starting this past January, he suddenly started wanting to kiss me. One night, he came home drunk. I was helping him onto the sofa, bringing him some tea to help him sober up. He suddenly grabbed my waist, pulled me onto his lap, and gently kissed me. I rarely kissed anyone; I almost passed out from shock. He gave a low laugh against my lips. “So this is what it tastes like. Sweet.” “Next time we kiss, remember to breathe.” That night, he initiated me into intimacy. After that, he got creative. He loved trying new, aggressive, thrilling things. He hated using protection. He loved dragging things out, even when the house staff was around. I could only bite my lip and try to endure. The more I struggled, the more he seemed to enjoy it. He developed a strange obsession: when we were intimate at night, he’d insist on me saying his name over and over again. “What’s my name?” “Silas. You’re Silas.” “Wrong. Say it again.” “What’s wrong with you, Silas, wait…” I could see the wildness in his eyes. The more I screamed his name, the more savage he became. He was strange during intimacy, like a psychotic dog that needed its fur stroked the right way to keep from snapping. But he was also sweet. He’d kiss me, bring me breakfast in bed, and make me soup when my stomach hurt. On my birthday, he set off an incredible firework display over the river. As the massive fireworks exploded in the sky, he stroked my hair and whispered, “Babe, let’s make a real life together.” And when I had nightmares, he’d wake me up, carefully pulling me into his arms and saying, “Don’t be scared, my sweet girl. I’m here.” Slowly, I began to think I might actually be falling for him. A few months ago, he pinned me to the bed again, refusing to use protection. I asked him, “What if I get pregnant?” He kissed me. “Then we have the baby. I’ll support you both.” The marriage proposal was his idea. That night, after everything was finished, he lay over me and whispered: “Babe, let’s stop being just lovers. Let’s be husband and wife.” Looking back now, I realized that from the very first time we slept together, that man wasn’t Silas. It was Elias. And the proposal was just a new, twisted game. This baby… I really had wanted to have it. But now? There was no point. None at all. 03 I had five days left before my flight. I had gotten very good at telling the two Vance brothers apart. Silas was cold, dark, and never smiled. A total workaholic. Elias was affectionate, clingy, and had a mole right on his V-line. I saw it every time we were intimate. I didn’t know if Silas had a mole in the same spot, as he had never touched me. This morning, I walked downstairs and saw Silas sitting in the dining room, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and reading a newspaper. “Ava,” he said, his tone icy and indifferent. “Dress nicely today. We have a guest coming.” Ah, first thing in the morning, reading the paper, wearing the glasses, and the cold attitude. This was the real Silas. The livestream chat frame exploded with excitement: 【Omg yes, today is the official meeting with Elias! I’m so excited.】 【This side-character is practically Elias’s personal toy. He knows every sensitive spot on her body, and she has to pretend she doesn’t even know him. That must be so humiliating.】 【People from the gutter are all the same. They’ll endure anything for money. Our main girl is so much better. A true heroine who never needs a man.】 【This meeting is just setting the stage for the public humiliation at the birthday party. I can’t wait!】 【Our main girl is so smart and sharp. I love her so much.】 I went back upstairs to change. By midday, Elias arrived, and he had Chloe Sterling on his arm. Seeing Elias, who looked exactly like Silas, I pretended to freeze in well-acted shock. Silas introduced him. “This is my twin brother, Elias. He’s been handling our international operations and just got back.” Elias smiled at me, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you.” I took his hand. “Nice to meet you, too.” I gave a shallow smile. “I had no idea you two looked so identical.” Elias’s expression didn’t change at all. He looked warm and harmless. “There’s a lot you don’t know.” Honestly, I had to give it to him. He was a great actor. We had slept together countless times, and here he was, pretending we were strangers. Chloe Sterling laughed. “Well, I don’t need an introduction. Ava and I were college roommates.” She reached out and grabbed my arm. “I heard you’re getting married. Silas and I already talked about it; I’m going to be your maid of honor.” Before I could respond, the chef came in to announce that lunch was served. At the table, Chloe sat between Silas and Elias. She rested her chin on her hand, looking at me with a sweet smile. “Ava, have you noticed if Silas has been acting any differently recently?” I knew why she was asking. She wanted to see me act confused, to laugh at me behind my back. So I gave her exactly what she wanted. I put down my fork and nodded. “Yeah. He’s actually changed a lot over the past year.” For a second, the entire world seemed to hit pause. Both of the Vance brothers froze. I suddenly let out a small laugh, my cheeks turning slightly pink. “He’s been so much sweeter to me. I think I’m falling in love with him all over again.” Silas shot a glare at Elias. Elias looked distinctly uncomfortable. During the meal, Elias automatically took the shell off a garlic butter shrimp and placed it in my bowl. “Babe, garlic shrimp, shelled. Your favorite.” The next second, the table went dead silent. He realized his mistake instantly, but he didn’t miss a beat. “My brother always calls you that. It slipped out. Sorry.” I nodded. “You’re actually a nice guy.” Silas shot a warning glare at Elias. I ignored them both, picked up the shrimp, and chewed. I felt a wave of nausea. Gross. Fishy. I needed to puke. I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom. When I came back out, Chloe Sterling was giving me a very meaningful look. “You’re not having morning sickness, are you?” Silas and Elias both stared at me. I forced a laugh. “No. I just ate something that didn’t agree with me. Puking is fine. It helps me lose weight.” Silas put down his fork, his smile not reaching his eyes. “Any thinner and you’ll just be a bag of bones. It would硌手 (hurt my hands).” 04 After lunch, Silas and Elias both drove Chloe Sterling home. They didn’t come back until very late. As soon as “he” walked in, he went straight to the shower. At this point, I wasn’t entirely sure if it was Silas or Elias. I saw “his” phone sitting on the nightstand. I decided to check it. The chat frame started trashing me: 【What does this side-character think she’s doing? She thinks she can check her billionaire boyfriend’s phone? She has zero self-awareness.】 【Don’t worry, she can’t guess the passcode.】 【The passcode is Chloe’s birthday. This dumbass is gonna be guessing until the sun comes down.】 Ah, thank you. Since Chloe and I were roommates, she made sure everyone knew when her birthday was. It was impossible to forget. I typed in Chloe’s birthday. The phone unlocked instantly. I opened iMessage and found the chat between the twins. Silas: 【We’re swapping back in two days.】 Elias: 【No. I’m having too much fun.】 Silas: 【She mentioned today that ‘Silas’ has been very sweet to her recently. You aren’t actually catching feelings for her, are you?】 Elias took a long time to reply. 【No. Of course not.】 【Didn’t you say the sweeter you are to her, the harder she’ll fall, and the more devastating the heartbreak will be when the dream shatters?】 【I’ve spent almost the entire last year with her. I need to make sure she doesn’t suspect anything in these final days.】 Silas: 【Understood.】 【You sure you didn’t touch her?】 Elias: 【No. What, are you jealous?】 Silas: 【No. I just don’t want someone else’s toys messing up my property.】 【I’m warning you, have your fun, but don’t cross the line. That’s the rule.】 So the one in the shower was Elias. Ten minutes later, Elias walked out of the bathroom. I was on my own phone, playing a game, acting like I hadn’t seen him. Elias gently took my wrist. “Babe, I told you about getting those long acrylics. Look what they did to my back.” I said, “Then call the cops.” Elias froze, then low-laughed. “Babe, you’re too cute.” He cupped my face and leaned down to kiss me. His hand started moving down, trying to reach under my top. I pushed him away. “My stomach hurts today.” Hearing that, Elias’s brow furrowed. “Stomach hurts? Your gastritis again?” I shook my head. “No.” He put his hand on my lower stomach. “Let me rub it.” I swatted his hand away. “Don’t.” Elias’s hand froze. After a long pause, he gave a cold laugh. “Fine. Suffer then. See if I care.” We didn’t speak for a long time. That night, my lower stomach kept hurting. I was tossing and turning, unable to sleep, curled into a ball. I don’t know what time it was, but I felt Elias sigh. He pulled me into his arms, gently rubbing my back, his voice thick with sleep. “Don’t hurt, my sweet girl. Don’t hurt…” When I was very young, my mom used to rub my back the same way. That memory felt so distant, like a dream. Now, Elias was doing the same thing. I felt an intense wave of disgust and mockery. 05 In the morning, when I woke up, Elias was already up. He was standing by the bed, scrolling through my phone, and he looked furious. Seeing me wake up, he glared at me, smiling like a psychotic demon. “Babe… tell me the truth. Are you hiding something from me?” I yawned. “What could I possibly hide from you?” His face went dark. He gave a cold laugh. “You’re not gonna tell me?” “Fine. Then tell me this…” He shoved my phone into my face, practically tapping my nose with it. “Why is a reproductive health clinic sending you a text about pre-op instructions for an abortion?” His voice grew colder and colder. “Babe, I don’t recall you telling me you were pregnant.” In that moment, I froze. My heart hammered against my ribs. But I forced myself to calm down. “Oh, relax. You’re making a scene out of nothing.” “I probably clicked some ad on a sketchy website and it signed me up for a spam list.” “If I were really pregnant, I’d tell you immediately. I’d use it to trap you forever.” Elias lifted an eyebrow. “You browse sketchy websites?” I nodded. “It’s good to expand one’s knowledge.” He lifted my chin. “The positions I teach you every night aren’t enough? You need external research? I’m getting jealous.” He pulled me into his arms. “Tell me… what positions did you learn?” I said, “I don’t know. I didn’t memorize them.” He gave a genuine laugh at that. “Stupid. I guess I’ll have to keep teaching you personally.” He looked at me. “Ava, four more days, and we’ll be married. “On our wedding day, I’m going to make you the happiest bride in the entire world. Okay?” I didn’t answer. Because we weren’t getting married. And we had no future. 06 Silas and Elias were both busy with the “wedding” preparations. I was busy with my own preparations: packing my relocation bags and transferring every asset I had extracted from the Vance family out of my name. I had a good friend living abroad, Maya, who had already booked an appointment for me at a clinic there. She’d also found me an apartment with a great balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows. My funds had arrived. Again, in two separate deposits. That afternoon, Elias took me to try on wedding dresses. He poked my stomach. “Your stomach is a little bloated. Eating too much good stuff lately?” I covered my stomach. “Mind your own business.” He laughed. “You’re getting a real attitude now that the wedding is close.” He picked up my hand and套 (套 =套 – to put a ring on) a ring on my finger. It was a diamond as big as a bird’s egg. He hugged me. “Finally. You’re going to belong only to me.” I let him hold me and gave a shallow “嗯” (Mhm). The livestream chat was not happy: 【I hate this b**ch. She actually thinks he’s going to marry her. You have no self-respect.】 【If she had any dignity, she’d have run as soon as she heard the truth. She really is a gold-digger.】 【You’re right. The novel says she’s a gold-digger. Both guys are rich and hot, so of course she won’t run.】 【If she was smart, she’d take the money and run now. Otherwise, Chloe is going to utterly destroy her at the wedding.】 I didn’t have the energy to argue with the chat. I was just silently calculating how much money this ring would sell for. 07 Two days left before my flight. I decided to splurge on myself. I went to a club and hired a few male dancers to perform for me. I wanted to know what it felt like to casually pick and choose men for entertainment. One sip of a cocktail and I was coughing. Right then, I heard a familiar voice nearby. Chloe Sterling was at the bar, completely wasted, slurping her words. “Once the wedding is over and we’re done with her, just kick her out. I’m tired of seeing her sandwich herself between you two every day. It’s annoying.” Silas didn’t give in immediately, which was unusual. He remained silent for a long time before slowly opening his mouth: “We can talk about that later.” Chloe froze. She looked at Elias. “Elias, what about you?” Elias avoided her eyes. “She’s so clingy… I mean, she clings to Silas. I’m worried she won’t be able to handle being kicked out.” Chloe looked pissed. “You guys aren’t catching feelings for her, are you?” “Back in college, when you agreed to this whole prank, it was your idea too, wasn’t it?” “When the original prank failed because she didn’t collapse after the breakup, you two were the ones who were pissed and wanted to find another way to mess with her.” “Now we have this perfect opportunity, and you’re going soft. You need to crush her into the gutter.” One of their trust-fund friends who was drinking with them tried to smooth things over. “Chloe is right. Maya means everything to you guys. Ava is just a toy. You play with it until it breaks, then you toss it.” “You’re really going to let Chloe be unhappy for the sake of that trash?” “Don’t forget, when you were kids and played family, Silas, you were always fighting over who got to be Chloe’s husband.” “You two would give her the moon if she asked for it. This is a small thing.” “If she gets really clingy, Silas, just give her a ‘breakup screw.’ You haven’t touched her for years, just fulfill her one wish and be done with it.” The chat erupted: 【What is going on with the Vance brothers? They used to worship Chloe Sterling.】 【Guys… do you think… they might actually have feelings for the side-character?】 【Especially Elias. He’s slept with her so many times. You can’t tell me there are no feelings.】 【You guys are delusional. The novel says they find out she’s pregnant and they throw her in a basement and torture her to death.】 I didn’t look at the chat. I was holding my breath, waiting for their answer. Finally, Silas spoke in a quiet voice. “Yeah. I understand.” In that moment, my heart seemed to miss a beat. Yeah. Of course.

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On a hit variety show, my celebrity daughter faced the cameras and complained that despite being our biological child, she always felt like an unwanted guest in our home. “They were always telling me to get out, and they’d say things like, ‘If you’re so tough, go support yourself.’” “Are your parents like this too?” The entire internet instantly started pitying her, encouraging her to cut ties with us. They even shoved microphones in my face, demanding I explain my “abusive behavior.” I pressed my lips together, utterly speechless. “Explain what?” I asked. “Explain how she gave me a live snake as a necklace, cockroaches as earrings, and a bullfrog as a music box for my birthday?” “Or should I explain the time she bit through a mercury thermometer and chewed on the toxic liquid metal like a popsicle?” “Or maybe talk about the time she missed her grandpa in the middle of the night, went to the backyard to dig him up, and ended up digging up the wrong yard?” Everyone in the studio, including my daughter, went dead silent. Then, the internet’s narrative completely reversed. [The fact that they only told you to ‘get out’ and didn’t end your life just shows that the law is working.] [It turns out kids really only remember feeling wronged, and completely forget the whole picture…] [When will her parents’ childhood trauma finally dissipate?] 1 When the phone rang, I was in the middle of repotting a clivia plant. The caller ID read “Riley the Daredevil”—my exclusive nickname for my daughter, Riley. This kid had been recklessly brave since she was little. When she grew up, she marched straight into Hollywood and became one of the few hardcore female action stars who insisted on doing all her own stunts. “Mom, are you free? Come do a variety show with me.” Riley’s voice came through the receiver, crisp and direct as always. I instinctively frowned, pausing the trowel in my hand. “I’m not going.” “I’m not going to get into a fistfight, and I’m definitely not going to perform scaling a tree in ten seconds.” A helpless sigh came from the other end of the line. “Mom, what are you thinking? It’s not that kind of blood-and-gore show.” She seemed a bit exasperated. “It’s a family-oriented variety show promoting career equality called The Other Side of the Profession. The producers invite celebrities from different fields to bring a family member who works in a completely different industry, just to show everyone what real life looks like.” “Dad is in Hawaii studying volcanoes and won’t be back anytime soon. Otherwise, we could have gone as a whole family.” Hearing this, my heart softened a bit. My husband, Nolan, is a geologist who spends most of the year chasing active volcanoes around the globe. Our family of three was indeed rarely in the same place at the same time. But I still wasn’t reassured. TV networks always love to manufacture a gimmick. “Is there really no life-threatening danger? I won’t have to jump off a cliff or wrestle an alligator, right?” “Mom!” Riley’s voice spiked an octave, then quickly dropped, carrying a hint of exasperated amusement. “Can you just trust me this once? It’s just chatting and playing games, absolutely safe.” To persuade me, she actually dragged out her syllables, using a whiny, pleading tone. “Please, Mom—” I froze, the trowel in my hand clattering to the floor. Ever since my daughter entered the stunt industry, she had completely severed ties with the word “delicate.” She was resilient, independent, and never showed weakness. I had teased her more than once, asking her to act cute for me, but she would always stiffen her neck and say: “Mom, I’m a grown woman, not a little girl. What’s the point of acting cute? It’s gross.” At this moment, that long-lost, awkward pleading tone felt like a warm current melting my heart. I was thrilled, but I deliberately played hard to get: “Talk is cheap.” “Huh?” “How about this,” I cleared my throat, suppressing a smile. “You owe me one. Next time I ask you to act cute, you have to do exactly what you just did, and I’ll agree to go.” The other end of the line was silent for a full five seconds before she practically roared, “Deal!” Immediately after, the phone was hung up at lightning speed. I happily wiped my hands and grabbed my phone to text my husband. [Nolan, wait till you get back, I have a treasure to show you. Our daughter knows how to act cute!] The message sent, sinking like a stone in the ocean. He was probably deep in some signal blind spot studying a volcano. 2 On the day of the premiere recording, I arrived at the studio right on time. Riley’s team was waiting for me at the entrance and escorted me to a private green room backstage. The show, The Other Side of the Profession, had a very interesting premise. In today’s internet age, people’s prejudices about different industries have become deeply ingrained. The show invited celebrities to bring a family member from a different field on camera, aiming to break stereotypes and promote career equality. As a new-generation action goddess, Riley was incredibly popular. Her fight scenes were clean and brutal, she never used a stunt double, and she never complained about the pain. She had cemented her place in the industry through sheer grit. But because of this, the public was full of wild speculations about her family background. Many people naturally assumed that a girl who pushed herself so hard must have come from extreme hardship, forcing her to be this way. I had just sat down in the green room when a young production assistant handed me an iPad. The live stream comments were already scrolling across the screen. [Riley’s mom is finally showing her face? I’m so curious what kind of person she is.] [Blind guess: she’s from a rural, patriarchal family, which is why Riley works so hard to prove herself.] [Looking at her back in the teaser, she’s dressed very plainly. Probably just an ordinary housewife. I bet she has a deadbeat brother Riley has to support. Ugh, poor sister.] [Don’t overthink it, but looking at Riley’s ruthlessness, her family conditions probably aren’t great.] I looked at these comments and found them hilarious. A brother? Having one “Daredevil” in the house was enough to drive me crazy. If I had another one, this family would have fallen apart long ago. I silently scoffed and set the tablet aside. Not long after, there was a knock on the door, and the other two groups of guests arrived. The producers had arranged a shared lounge to let everyone get familiar beforehand. One group was the trending singer-songwriter duo, Mason and his girlfriend, Zoey. Mason sang the songs Zoey wrote for him. They were the recognized golden couple of the industry. They really did look in love—inseparable, whispering to each other, their eyes full of smiles. The other group was the Oscar-winning actress Clara and her younger sister, Peyton. Clara had been famous for years. She was humble, completely lacking any diva attitude, and immediately greeted us with a warm smile. Riley politely responded. “Riley, long time no see. I watched your new movie, your action scenes were so cool,” Clara praised sincerely. “You’re too kind, Clara,” Riley smiled. However, her younger sister Peyton, who was trailing behind, had a completely different attitude. Her chin was pointed at the ceiling. Her eyes swept over us with undisguised scrutiny and contempt. Her gaze first landed on Mason and Zoey, and her lips curled into a sneer. “A guy who writes cheap pop songs gets to be on the same show as us?” Mason and Zoey’s faces instantly fell, but their good manners kept them from lashing out. Next, Peyton’s gaze turned to Riley and me. She looked up and down at Riley’s casual athletic wear—chosen for comfort—and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Smells like sweat. Looks dirty and gross.” “Fighting and killing all day long, not a single trace of femininity.” 3 The moment those words left her mouth, the temperature in the room dropped to freezing. Riley’s eyes went cold, her hands unconsciously balling into fists on her knees. I patted the back of her hand, signaling her to stay calm. “Peyton!” Clara’s face darkened, and she immediately shut her down. “Don’t be so rude! Apologize to everyone right now!” But Peyton didn’t care about her sister at all. She scoffed dismissively and fired back. “Apologize for what? I’m telling the truth.” “Sister, what are you so arrogant about? You just entered Hollywood a few years before me, right?” “You just got lucky and won an award. You wait, in a few years, I’ll definitely be more famous than you!” With that, she tugged at her expensive designer dress and stormed out of the green room. Clara’s face went from pale to red. She was humiliated beyond belief. She took a deep breath, turned to us, and her face was full of apology. “I’m so sorry. My sister… she just entered the industry and has been spoiled by our family. She’s arrogant and speaks without thinking. Please don’t take it to heart.” Mason forced a smile, holding his girlfriend’s hand. “It’s fine, Clara. We don’t mind.” I also smiled and nodded. “It’s okay. Young people have tempers, it’s normal.” Everyone tacitly agreed to move past the awkward exchange. Under the urging of the staff, we walked out to the main recording stage together. I glanced at the iPad the assistant had handed me again. The comments had already exploded over that scene. [My god, who does this Peyton think she is? How dare she talk like that in front of everyone?] [She’s always had this attitude since her debut. With her family’s connections and resources, it’s normal for her to be arrogant.] [To be fair, her acting is decent. The supporting roles she’s played were pretty good. Let’s just watch the show and not get too emotionally invested in their private lives.] [Are you a saint? Rude is rude, what does that have to do with acting? I feel so bad for Riley and Mason.] The spotlight suddenly hit us, cutting off all distracting thoughts. The host’s enthusiastic voice boomed, and the show officially began. Holding his cue cards, the host announced in his usual upbeat tone: “Welcome, everyone, to The Other Side of the Profession!” “Today we have three very special groups of guests. They will join us to talk about the untold stories behind their careers and families.” The show proceeded smoothly. The first segment was a warm-up where the guests introduced their families and professions. The microphone was first handed to Clara. She was wearing a tasteful champagne-colored gown, her makeup flawless. Every gesture exuded the grace and elegance that only comes with time. As a household-name actress, she barely needed an introduction. The host showered her with praise, mentioning her classic roles and recent international awards. The live audience and the comments were full of goodwill. “Clara, today you brought your sister Peyton, correct?” “Peyton is also a rising star in our entertainment industry. Welcome!” The host turned the microphone to Peyton. Peyton smoothed her skirt and took the microphone, her face wearing an expression of entitled arrogance. “Hello everyone, I’m Peyton.” She kept it brief, acting as if saying another word would be beneath her. 4 As soon as she finished speaking, I glanced at the iPad on the small table next to me. The comments were scrolling rapidly. [Didn’t they say they were bringing family members from other professions? Why did the actress bring an actress sister?] [Isn’t that breaking the rules? What were the producers thinking?] [Heh, what else? Nepotism. Look at her attitude, acting like she’s God’s gift to the world, like everyone owes her money.] [I gotta say, Clara is such a nice person. Why is her sister so awful?] The host had clearly seen similar feedback and expertly smoothed things over. “Although both Peyton and Clara are in the entertainment industry, one is a veteran, acclaimed actress, and the other is a newcomer with unlimited potential. The stages they are at and the challenges they face are completely different.” “In a sense, they represent the ‘other side’ within the acting industry itself, don’t they?” He covered the issue flawlessly, temporarily quieting the netizens’ doubts. The microphone was then passed to Mason. He looked slightly nervous, tightening his grip on Zoey’s hand. He briefly introduced himself as a singer, then looked tenderly at the girl beside him. “There have been a lot of speculations online about my private life, and I’ve never officially responded.” “Today, I want to take this opportunity to officially introduce her to everyone.” He paused, his voice clear and firm. “This is Zoey. Not only is she the brilliant lyricist who wrote many of my songs, but she is also my girlfriend who has been by my side for many years.” A wave of good-natured cheers and applause filled the studio. Zoey’s cheeks flushed, but she graciously squeezed Mason’s hand and smiled at the camera. The comments instantly exploded. [Ahhhh! It’s official! My ship is real!] [I knew it! Those lyrics were too sweet to be written by anyone other than a real couple!] [Sobbing, my imaginary husband is gone… but I have to give them my blessing. They look so perfect together.] [The real-life version of the musical genius and his muse! Locked in!] I looked at the two of them and felt happy for them too. Young people loving openly and honestly is a beautiful thing. Finally, the host’s gaze fell on Riley and me. “Lastly, let’s welcome our wildly popular action star, Riley, and her… very mysterious mother!” The focus of the entire studio instantly shifted to us. As the most daring and capable action star of her generation, Riley had always been shrouded in mystery. She never talked about her family, and her parents had never appeared in the public eye. The outside world’s speculations about us could probably fill a hundred-episode TV drama. Riley took the microphone, her words as concise as ever. “Hello everyone, I’m Riley. This is my mom, Grace.” The host smiled at me. “Grace, hello! We are all incredibly curious.” “Riley is so outstanding, and we all want to know what kind of family raised her.” “What professions are you and Riley’s father in?” I looked at the camera and spoke calmly: “Her father is named Nolan. He’s a geologist. He primarily studies volcanic activity and is abroad for most of the year.” A small gasp of awe echoed through the studio. A geologist chasing volcanoes—to most people, that profession sounded both distant and incredibly hardcore. I paused and continued: “My name is Grace. I am a master artisan. I primarily specialize in traditional American metalsmithing, vintage filigree work, and preserving intangible cultural heritage crafts.” 5 After I finished, the studio fell silent for a few seconds. The comments erupted, with various speculations and remarks flashing by. [A volcanologist? A master artisan? What kind of god-tier combo is this?] [One chases volcanoes around the world, the other buries her head in crafts… Neither of those jobs sounds like they spend much time at home.] [No wonder Riley is so independent. Was she just raised in the wild?] [Why does this make me feel a little sad? It feels like the parents live in their own worlds, and the kid had to fight her own way up. Too tough.] [So the rumors about her becoming a stunt double because she was from a poor family are half true? Even if they weren’t financially poor, she was definitely deprived of companionship and love.] The host, proving why he was a top-tier professional, immediately grasped the emotional peak in the comments and seamlessly transitioned to the next segment. “Listening to everyone’s introductions, I’ve noticed a very interesting phenomenon.” “The impact a family has on a person is truly vastly different.” “So, let’s chat about how your families have impacted your career paths.” He gave the first opportunity to Clara. Many people were already familiar with Clara’s story. She spoke openly about her past, relying on her mother to survive in a low-income household. When she first entered the entertainment industry, it was only because a scout noticed her looks, and she knew the industry paid well enough to improve her family’s life. “But it’s amazing,” her voice carried a touch of nostalgia. “At first, it was just for survival. But when you really throw yourself into it, experiencing different lives and shaping every character, you slowly fall in love with it.” “Acting has become the most important part of my life.” Her storytelling was sincere and moving, earning a wave of praise in the comments. [This is a true grassroots heroine, making it to the top step by step on her own.] [She did it for the money at first, then fell in love with it. It’s like a ‘marriage of convenience’ with her career!] [Clara’s mom remarried and is happy now, and Clara is successful. Truly a rags-to-riches story.] When the topic shifted to Peyton, the atmosphere suddenly changed. She curled her lip, her tone full of unconcealed superiority and defiance. “My sister didn’t have a choice back then.” “I’m different. I genuinely love acting. And I think I have more talent than she does. She just debuted earlier and had a head start.” She raised her chin, making a bold declaration to the cameras. “In the future, I will definitely be better than her, win more awards, and become a true Best Actress.” Her words made the atmosphere in the studio incredibly awkward. Clara’s smile looked helpless as she gently patted her sister’s hand, trying to smooth things over. “It’s good to have dreams. Just work hard to achieve them.” The comments, however, were not so polite. [I literally want to vomit. What kind of bizarre speech is this?] [She takes advantage of her sister and still acts like a brat! Without your sister, would you have the resources you have today?] [Her emotional intelligence is terrifyingly low, embarrassing her sister in front of a national audience.] [She actually thinks she’s amazing, completely oblivious to the fact that she’s standing on the shoulders of a giant.] Peyton had clearly seen the real-time feedback. Her face turned bright red, and she opened her mouth, wanting to argue back defiantly. Seeing a sisterly dispute about to unfold on live television, the host acted quickly, cutting off her words and decisively turning the microphone to Riley, who was sitting next to me. The movement was so fast it left almost no gap, and all the cameras swiveled to focus on my daughter, who had been silent since the beginning. “Riley!” The host’s voice was full of leading intent. “After hearing your mother’s introduction, everyone is even more curious about your upbringing.” “We all know that the path of an action star is incredibly grueling. Injuries are an everyday occurrence. Many male actors can’t even stick with it, let alone a young woman.” “So, everyone is very curious. Why did you choose this path in the first place?” He paused slightly, staring sharply at Riley, throwing the speculation that had been fermenting online right in front of her. “Many people think that for a young woman to be this tough and endure so much hardship, she must have had a very difficult family life, or lacked love growing up, forcing her to take this path to prove herself. Do you have anything you’d like to say about that?” 6 In that instant, the air in the studio seemed to freeze. All the lights, all the cameras, all the gazes—whether sympathetic, speculative, or curious—fell over my daughter like an invisible net. Riley held the microphone, silent for a moment. Then she looked up, staring directly into the camera. Her eyes held no grievance; instead, it was a frank statement of fact. “Yes, the host is right.” She spoke, her voice clear and resonant. “My choice of this path definitely has to do with my family.” The studio erupted in murmurs, and the comments instantly caught fire. “Even though I’m their biological child, I always felt like an unwanted guest.” She continued, speaking at a moderate pace, but every word was distinct. “They were always telling me to get out, and they’d say, ‘If you’re so tough, go support yourself.’” My eyelid twitched. I felt a wave of helplessness. This kid, I thought. Her memory is bad enough, but why does she always take things so literally? But her words were like a drop of water in boiling oil. The comments completely exploded. The screen was covered in phrases like “Heartbroken for Riley,” “Sending hugs to the Queen,” and “What kind of garbage parents are these?” A fleeting glint of excitement flashed in the host’s eyes. He had keenly captured the show’s climax. He pushed the microphone a bit closer to Riley, encouraging her to continue. Riley certainly didn’t disappoint him. Hearing the prompt, she seemed to gain momentum and nodded eagerly. “Yeah! When I was a kid, I watched Jackie Chan Adventures and thought Jade was so cool—smart and a great fighter. I wanted to be someone like that.” “I thought, someone that amazing could definitely support herself and wouldn’t have to deal with other people’s attitudes.” She rambled on, sounding as if she were recalling an inspirational past. “So I wanted to go learn martial arts, learn real skills, so no one could ever bully me or tell me to leave.” “Now I’ve succeeded. I can support myself. Looking back, I really don’t hold a grudge about it anymore.” After she finished speaking, she even smiled magnanimously, striking the pose of a queen returning in triumph, letting the past go like smoke. The sympathy for her in the comments reached its peak. They praised her as “awake” and the “ceiling of independent women.” At the same time, the vitriol directed at Nolan and me came crashing down like an avalanche. [They gave birth to her but didn’t raise her. And when they did, they did a terrible job.] [Do these parents even deserve such a wonderful daughter?] [Suggest cutting ties! The Queen can shine alone!] The host opportunistically turned the microphone to me, his face wearing a perfectly measured expression of concern and inquiry. “Grace, do you have any explanation for what Riley just said?” “After all, we all want to know what was really happening behind the scenes.” I was speechless. I looked at my daughter, whose face clearly said, ‘Everything I said was a fact,’ and couldn’t help but ask her: “Are you actually forgetting?” Riley froze, looking at me in confusion. “Forget what?” “The host is asking me if there are any hidden details.” I took the microphone, ignoring his question, and looked calmly into my daughter’s eyes. “I don’t have any dark secrets to hide. I just want to help you remember exactly why we told you to get out.” I paused, clearly articulating the first piece of evidence. “Do you remember the birthday present you gave me when you turned eight?” “It was a live green snake that you said I could use as a necklace. And a shiny, greasy cockroach that you said I could dry out and use as an earring.” “And a bullfrog with a pulsating belly that you told me was a singing music box.” A collective gasp echoed through the studio. Riley’s mouth fell open slightly as she struggled to recall. “We told you to ‘get out’ because we wanted you to take those ‘presents’ and get out of the house. We told you not to bring them inside.” “Also, you said we told you to ‘support yourself if you’re so tough.’” “That was because you bit through a glass mercury thermometer and chewed the liquid mercury like a popsicle. When we found out, you actually argued back, saying the book stated heavy metals were very filling.” “I scolded you, and you got mad. You threatened that if we didn’t let you eat what you wanted, you wouldn’t eat at all and would starve yourself to death. That’s when we said—if you’re so tough, then go support yourself.” The atmosphere in the studio started to get a little weird. Suppressed laughter could be heard from the audience. “There was another time, you said you missed your grandpa, and in the middle of the night you went to dig up his grave…” Before I could finish, Riley’s face flushed bright red. “Mom!” Oh, so she knew how to be embarrassed? I ignored her and continued speaking into the microphone: “We could understand you missing your grandpa, but you dug up the wrong place. You went and dug up our neighbor Mr. Wilson’s yard.” “When we found you, you were digging right alongside the family husky.” “You had so much brute strength, you were digging faster than the dog.” 7 “Pfft—” I don’t know who couldn’t hold it in first, but a laugh escaped. Immediately following, the entire studio erupted in earth-shattering laughter. The narrative in the comments experienced a massive 180-degree flip in that very second. [Hahahaha I’m so sorry, I take back everything I said about her parents!] [The fact that they only told you to get out and didn’t beat you to death is only because they’re related by blood, and because of the law.] [It turns out kids really only remember feeling wronged, and completely forget the whole picture…] [I’m declaring it now, Riley the Daredevil’s childhood is the funniest joke I’ve heard all year!] “And your martial arts training wasn’t something we forced you into either.” I looked at my dumbstruck daughter, deciding to finish the whole story. “That was the result of a family meeting between the three of us.” “We asked you if you wanted to go. Mostly because you had an endless supply of brute strength, and keeping you idle at home was a hazard. Your dad and I were so busy with work, yet we had to constantly follow behind you cleaning up your messes.” “You patted your chest and said you were willing to go. But when you got to the academy, you grabbed your coach’s hand and said something like, ‘A gentleman’s revenge is a dish best served cold.’” The comments were laughing like crazy. [This is exactly like when I was a kid and said ‘Thirty years on the east side of the river, thirty years on the west side, don’t look down on a poor youth,’ and then forgot what it meant the next day!] [The dark history of trying to study hard and be a cold, edgy person! Hahahaha, who didn’t have that middle-school phase!] [Riley, it turns out you’re actually a comedian!] Riley’s expression shifted from shock to confusion, and finally to pure disbelief. “Mom… is all this… true?” “What do you think?” I asked her. “Did you think you just walked into an MMA gym, bowed three times to the coach, and they were so moved they were crying tears of joy, begging to take you in?” “Your coach has to eat too. All these years, who do you think was paying your tuition?” She was completely speechless. “When you were a kid, your dad and I didn’t entirely dismiss the idea of you learning from us.” I sighed and continued. “I thought, since you’re a girl, you could learn to do traditional crafts with me. Be a bit quiet, maybe it would temper your personality.” “And the result? I brought out high-quality shells meant for mother-of-pearl inlay, and you used them as ninja stars, embedding them into the wall.” “A custom silver fountain pen I had just finished crafting… in half a day, you had ground it down to a nub because you said you wanted to see if it tasted like chocolate inside.” “Later, seeing that you just had way too much energy, your dad took you out into the wilderness, thinking you could try your hand at geological surveying.” “The result? You put on a little backpack, hiked head-down in the mountains for an hour, didn’t find a single valuable rock, but brought back seventeen different kinds of bugs.” “You didn’t say a word. You just stared at us with those big eyes like a little demon.” “You had strength, you had guts, you just completely lacked a brain.” “So, that’s why we didn’t let you follow in our footsteps.” After I finished, another roar of laughter erupted in the studio. Hearing all this, Riley completely deflated. Given her thick-skinned nature, she didn’t feel too embarrassed. She just scratched her hair and muttered sheepishly: “Man… I just remember trying really hard to help out when I was little, and then you guys were always annoyed by me and didn’t want my help.” That wronged, yet suddenly enlightened look hit everyone’s funny bone all over again. This segment, which could have easily devolved into a family tragedy, ultimately ended as an unexpected comedy. The host wiped away tears of laughter and finally managed to drag the show’s schedule back on track.

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